Santa Claus has been hailed a hero by local communities in Damascus, Virginia after aiding the police in the arrest of a streaker.

Father Christmas assisted the local police in catching a 35-year-old man who was running naked outside a police station on Monday.

Santa told News Channel 11, "He sees you when you're sleeping, he sees when you're awake, and he sees when you're naked coming down the street.

"I've seen a lot of things in my life, but that has to be one of the strangest I have ever witnessed."

Santa, who asked not be named, said he was driving his car when he saw that the driver of the truck behind him was throwing trash, parts of his truck and then took off his clothing outside the window.

He adds, "By the time he got into Damascus and jumped out of the truck, he was stark naked."

The police rushed out of the police station after hearing the squealing tires and Santa pointed them to the direction of the naked man who was immediately arrested.

Tony Richardson, chief of police said, "He said that he had been to the dentist and taken some pain pills and apparently he took too many. I'm standing here with this naked man handcuffed and then here comes Santa Claus. I said, 'Can it get any better than this?'"