A runaway reindeer wreaked festive chaos after it dashed away from a local Christmas parade.

Southport Offshore Rescue Trust was called out at 4.43pm last night, after the festive fugitive had been missing for several hours last seen headingnorth to the sand dunes of Formby Beach, Liverpool.

A resident who saw it told Sefton Bubble: ‘We thought it was a stag at first, but then a National Trust ranger asked if we’d seen a real reindeer!

‘We pointed them in the direction it went – literally trotting north up the beach.

‘Then the police arrived. They’re really worried about it getting onto the road.’ Merseyside Police were tracking the reindeer across the dunes, but eventually lost sight of the animal as darkness fell.

The Southport Offshore Rescue Trust used thermal binoculars to locate

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