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Runaway reindeer found after escaping from Christmas grotto

reindeer.Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Reindeer are often associated with the Christmas season

This is the time of year when there's lots of Christmas cheer and...missing reindeer?

It may sound like a Christmas tale from a storybook, but the magestic animals managed to cause quite the stir in Suffolk over the weekend.

Majestic Reindeer, which owns several reindeer, were left in a bit of a frenzy after two of them escaped from a Christmas attraction in Suffolk.

The animals, named Blue and Blitzen, had been brought to Elveden Estate, one of the biggest farms in the UK, where they had been taken for an event featuring a Santa's grotto.

Image source, ELVEDEN ESTATE
Image caption,

Blue and Blitzen were at a Christmas event at Elveden Estate when they decided to make a dash for it

However, on Sunday, police were called to reports the two reindeer had been spotted on a main road nearby.

The road was closed in both directions to keep everyone safe and re-opened three hours later, once the reindeer had moved away. The reindeer were eventually captured the next day.

Did you know?

Reindeer are the only deer species where both the male and female can grow antlers.

Males' antlers can grow up to a 1.4 metres long and females' antlers can grow up to more than half a metre long.

"They went for quite a run," a spokesperson for Elveden Estate said. "We located them last night, but couldn't get close enough to bring them in, and then it became too dark."

They said the owner came back on Monday with another reindeer to help out, along with some food and eventually managed to get Blue and Blitzen to safety.