A reindeer was taken ill at Polhill Garden Centre's Christmas grotto launch event last weekend as children and their parents watched.

Rumours of its death spread on social media…but the animal had in fact made a full recovery and later returned to graze in the paddock after being given a clean bill of health by local vets.

Retail manager Dan Banning said the reindeers were supplied by the Reindeer Centre in Kent, which the centre had used for years. “The deer were fine on arrival but one of them was taken ill. The company took him straight back to their base.”

Despite the incident, the grotto launch was a success. “We had a full garden centre, a lot of people up here wanting to have some good, genuine family fun,” said Mr Banning. “The grotto was open, and the shop was trading. So, it was all a very positive and fun weekend.”