Do-it-your-elf delights: Inside Cannon Hall Farm's Magical Toy Factory

LET’S hear it for the elves!

For so long simply the cheery sidekicks to Santa Claus, the little helpers have finally begun to get some recognition in recent years.

Classic comedy Elf can’t have hampered this emergence, Will Ferrell’s innocent man-child Buddy having catapulted the green-and-red-clad clan into the spotlight.

And a recent visit to Meadowhall’s Wishmas attraction was jubilantly dominated by a clutch of effervescent characters.

There, enchanted children can learn the special elf salute and decorate their own tree decorations before meeting Santa himself.

Cannon Hall Farm is taking the interactivity into the toy workshop itself.

The family farm near Barnsley has its own traditional Santa’s Grotto for £9 a pop (and judging by the size and quality of the gifts apparently on offer that looks pretty decent value).

But for a more hands-on experience, you can enrol your little one on the teddy-making production line at the Magical Toy Factory.

Housed in a marquee outside the farm itself, the Christmas attraction — officially relaunched for this year — involves singing, music-making and, eventually, the chance to name, stuff and take home your own cuddly companion.

Youngsters can check in at reception for their special elf passport and pause for an “elfie selfie” in a pair of frames with appropriate props, before heading into the factory itself.

Here, they meet two of the toy-making elves, who appear to have forgotten how to fashion teddies and — horror of horrors — lost their cute creations’ hearts.

Calamitous giant elf “Tiny” has kids of all ages in stitches with his capers, before enlisting them to spread some Christmas magic with a group rendition of Jingle Bells.

After a crash course in the steps of teddy-making (no sewing machines required), children are ready to dash next door and get busy.

Slack-jawed little ones and beaming bigger ones line up around a workshop table for a brief introduction from their behatted, pointy-eared supervisor, before selecting their teddy of choice from a wide range including (but not limited to) elephants, ladybirds, cats, dogs and unicorns.

Impressively plush to the touch and generously-sized, the cuddly toys are given a wish-blessed fabric heart, filled with stuffing and finally zipped up.

And for the icing on the cake, each comes with his or her own elf-approved birth certificate.

Stripey hats off to the delightful elves of Copycat Party Company —  each of them buzzing with energy and Christmas cheer — who make the experience fun without being too syrupy.

At almost £20 a head, it’s not cheap, and the experience itself is all over in about half an hour, but the effect lingers on as children head home — or onwards to the farm itself — with the rare delight of a new cuddly friend who they can say they have helped bring into being. And you can’t say that every Christmas.

Fancy visiting the Magical Toy Shop on us? We have four tickets to give away to one lucky group.