REINDEER Court in Worcester certainly lived up to its name when real reindeer arrived to transform the city centre into a winter wonderland.

Forget Rudolf, Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, and Blitzen, it was Tod and Kate who were creating a festive stir in the shopping centre on Saturday.

The jaws of child and adult alike dropped as the public promptly forgot about their Christmas shopping and only had eyes for the two reindeer, taking turns to pet the animals or be pictured with them harnessed to the sleigh.

The beasts came to Worcester courtesy of 'Trevor Hill's Reindeer Encounter'.

His son Steve Hill, 20, and Steve's girlfriend, Sammy-Jo Arnold, 18, were looking after the two reindeer and introducing them to the fascinated public.

Among those to meet the reindeer were Mike Cornforth and his two children, Alicia, four, and Levi, six.

Mr Cornforth of Kidderminster said at first his son Levi did not believe the animals were real.

He said: "They were very excited to see them. Alicia has already made herself at home."

Mr Hill said it was the first time they had brought the reindeer to the Worcester shopping centre but they may do so again after getting a warm welcome from the public.

The family have 16 reindeer near Bromyard but Kate was of particular interest because she has never grown any antlers which he said was unusual for reindeer (female reindeers usually grow antlers unlike other types of deer).

Tod on the other hand has a magnificent set of antlers although he is losing the velvet from them.

To remedy the situation Mr Hill's nan, Margaret Hill, has knitted antler socks to protect them.

When the antlers are still growing there is a high blood flow and they can be quite soft and sensitive and can bleed.

Mr Hill said: "You can see the faces of the children light up when they see the reindeer.

"All ages show an interest from the kids to the older generation. Not many people have seen a reindeer before."

Tod, four, is of Russian stock and Kate, there, is a Swedish reindeer.