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A runaway reindeer from a Christmas event sparked an extraordinary multi-agency rescue mission last night, after the animal vanished for several hours and dodged attempts to capture it.

Police officers tracking the reindeer's whereabouts lost sight of it in the darkness on Formby Beach as night fell on Saturday (November 29).

Fears mounted that the animal might end up in the River Mersey, prompting authorities to call in additional support, including Southport Coastguard quad teams and Coastguard crews from HM Coastguard Southport and HM Coastguard Crosby.

The Southport quad team eventually spotted the reindeer on the shoreline using thermal binoculars. But safely capturing it proved challenging, reports Lancs Live .

Emergency teams worked cautiously to guide the rei

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