Animated Rudolph given new lease of life

A much-loved animated reindeer is to set to continue to bring festive joy to children across Leicestershire after it was given a new lease of life.

Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service's (LFRS) reindeer, called Rudolph, has raised hundreds of thousands of pounds for charity since its introduction in 1949.

But after decades the fire service said the latest edition of Rudolph, created in 1979, had "fallen into disrepair" with mechanical problems and his fur looking worse for wear.

Now a team from BBC series The Repair Shop has given the well-known reindeer a much-needed makeover.

Darren Weston, LFRS station manager, made a plea to the programme as Rudolph "desperately needed repairing".

"Thankfully, the Repair Shop team have worked a Christmas miracle, and fixed him up better than he's ever looked before," he said.

Nick Farmer, 80, from Leicester, created the reindeer with his friend and creative director Steve Pearce.

The pair built the animal from a workshop in an attic above a knitwear factory off Belgrave Gate.

The pair ran a business at the time producing animated displays for the toy industry.

"Somehow the Leicestershire fire service heard of me and asked me if I could build them a new reindeer," he said.

Mr Pearce took care of the illustration, sculpted it and wielded the metal skeleton together, while Mr Farmer did all the mechanical engineering before it was covered in fur.

Mr Farmer said he took a lot of pride in still seeing the reindeer out and about.

"It is lovely to see him and see the children enjoying him and see that he collects money for such a good cause," he said.

LFRS chief fire officer, Callum Faint, said: "Over the past 30 years alone nearly half a million pounds has been raised and distributed through the Rudolph Fund.

"We are hugely grateful to The Repair Shop for their very generous work, which will ensure Rudolph's collections can be kept going this Christmas, and for a long time to come."

Rudolph is set to appear on The Repair Shop on 26 December at 19:30 GMT.

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