This year marks the 50th year that the local Rotary Clubs' sleigh will tour the Ashby area in the lead-up to Christmas.

But one of the little-known facts about it is that its reindeer was an unwanted item from the country's best-known department store.

Santa Claus will be there as usual as the sleigh visits various locations during December - but his reindeer was once on show in London's Harrods store.

The sleigh paid a visit this week to the Ashby Connect event, organised by Fishers Solicitors, at the Beeches bar and restaurant in Burton Road.

Santa was there to let people know about December's Sleigh Run and Sunday's Santa Fun Run and Walk at the Bath Grounds.

But, Roy Stobbs, from the Rotary Club explained the story of how the reindeer travelled from the West End to Ashby 50 years ago.

He said:  "There was an opportunity to get one from Harrods in London. We pursued the channels, and with a bit of persuasion, and without having to pay too much for it, we managed to get it.

Santa was at The Beeches in Ashby this week

"On the way back, we put it in a little horse box, windows open at the back.

"We found out that we might be able to get it from Harrods because a company that I used to work for, we did some promotion with them.

"Our sales guy came back and showed us some pictures, and this reindeer just happened to be in the shot. It was being used as a display model.

"I said: 'That's what we could do with'. We latched on to it and it all started from there. 

"This is the actual one we use today and it's around 50 years old, maybe more.

"Unfortunately, we couldn't get anything like it again, so this is prize reindeer of the ones we use."

Santa and his sleigh will be at Ashby's Christmas Market - in Market Street - this weekend.