Oh deer…it’s raining reindeer at garden centres across the UK this year, leaving poor old Santa on the horns of a dilemma.

In fact, Santa could end up with a face redder than Rudolf’s nose if the reindeer don't make it back to base in time for the annual Christmas Eve global tour.

Here at GTN Extra, we reckon Santa’s operations director is in for a right old sleigh-ting afer allowing so many members of the reindeer out into garden centres in the festive run-up. And how Santa himself is going to cope with more ports of call than you can shake a sleigh-whip at is anybody’s guess. But there again, Santa’s just brilliant at turning up in several places at once, so we shouldn’t be in the least surprised.

Just take a look at this (by no means comprehensive) list of centres on the reindeer route for grotto openings and Santa’s arrival.

Armitages (straight from the Cairngorms on 17 Nov)

Baytree (to be fair, they have a herd of their own – a kind of Santa satellite)

Downtown (Rocket the Reindeer. You know…one of the new ones)

Eastfield (eat your Christmas dinner in the presence of Reindeer)

Henry Street (they’ve got Prancer and Dancer…..oooooooew!)

Knights Chelsham and Woldingham (with huskies, too)

Millbrook, whose ant(ler)tics include a ‘name the reindeer’ competition.

Poplars (reindeers from the Berkshire depot)

Scotsdales (arriving with Santa)

Stratford (“Thisaway, not Hathaway”)

Trebaron Sefton Meadows and Newton le Willows

Whitehall Lacock (Starlight and Moonbeam) and Whitchurch (Twinkle and Sparkle)

Woodcote Green

Six centres in the Garden & Leisure Group

The Gardens Group at Sherborne, Brimsmore and Poundbury (Rudolph, Cupid and Snowflake).

Santa has no shortage of ‘agents’ these days so his reindeer are not hard to book. They include the Cairngorm Reindeers (Britain’s only wild herd) and Animal Enterprises. Jackie Rowberry of Reindeer-4Hire.co.uk, who run a herd of six reindeer and supply Poplars, says competition in reindeer land is driving down prices  – but fewer garden centres have booked this year.

Perhaps Santa’s doing a bit of direct business on the side…naughty, naughty. He’ll get the Sack if he’s not careful. That'd take the shine off Rud......oh, enough already.