AFTER nearly missing Christmas altogether, two reindeer from a farm in Highampton managed to fly to South Zeal this week to pay a visit to local children ahead of the big day.

Father Christmas and reindeer Star and Comet from Chidesters Farm flew in to the village on December 22 to meet children and grown-ups alike at the Oxenham Arms.

The two had looked destined to be stuck on the farm throughout the festive season after a tuberculosis scare meant they were not allowed out.

However, when the farm’s cattle were discovered not to have any TB lesions, the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) gave Star and Comet the all-clear to leave the farm and help Santa deliver some Christmas cheer.

The pair of one-year-old males stayed in the village for nearly two hours, with children able to stroke Star and Comet and feed them ‘magic moss’ so they could continue on their journey delivering presents around the world.

Star and Comet live with Liz Poole-Warren on her farm with her two other reindeer, Catkin and Willow. Normally they would have been very busy over the past month with events leading up to Christmas, but the TB scare has limited their activity to this and one other visit this Christmas season.

Liz used their starring appearance to raise money for North Devon Hospice and to teach children about reindeer. People were invited to make a donation to the charity when having pictures with Star and Comet.

Liz said: ‘We had a full programme of Christmas activities booked with the reindeer but after Defra saw our cattle didn’t have any lesions and that there had been no nose-to-nostecontact they allowed us to take the deer out. I can see why they did it but obviously it was quite upsetting for us.

‘I got the first pair last year. They are incredible creatures, there is so much to learn about them. They become friends for life once they get to know you. They can be a bit nervous and are hyper-sensitive. When you think they were born in Scandinavia in a habitat where they would see hardly any humans, and brought to England as young calves, it’s understandable. They can be challenging but they are worth it.

‘I love doing the Christmas events with them — not just for the animals but more for seeing people’s reactions to them. Last year we took them to a couple of learning disability centres. One visit nearly brought me to tears; one of the deer was restless in the pen, so he tried to jump over the fence, and one of the children said how he thought he was trying to fly. People get an awful lot out of it.’

Some visitors commented that Father Christmas looked very similar to the chairman of the North Devon Campaign for Real Ale Morris Elsworth, who was nowhere to be seen during Santa’s visit.

The event was organised by Lyn Powell at the Oxenham Arms. She said: ‘It is very exciting to have Father Christmas at the pub. We have had some phenomenal feedback, it seems everyone we have told about it is planning to come. Hopefully it won’t have caused too much traffic chaos in the village, but it’s all for a bit of fun and a good cause.’

Star and Comet enjoyed themselves so much that they are planning to pay another visit to South Zeal the same time next year.