Reindeer visit care home as Christmas treat

Two reindeer have visited a Kent care home as a pre-Christmas treat.

Dancer and Prancer, who come from The Reindeer Centre, paid a special visit to Rusthall Lodge in Tunbridge Wells.

What started out as a treat to cheer residents up during the Covid pandemic has now turned into the centre's fourth annual reindeer visit.

A care home spokesman said: "Reindeer are just magical and completely make Christmas."

Resident George said: "I'm quite excited. It's lovely to see them."

His wife Audrey went on: "We've waited patiently for Rudolph to appear.

"Reindeer are quite gentle, aren't they? They may push a bit, but they're still gentle."

Jim, another resident, said: "It's a very lovely gesture. I don't know who suggested it, but it's the biggest Christmas bauble in the life of this place."

Alison Martin, deputy manager of Rusthall Lodge, told BBC Radio Kent: "It's a big event here and the residents love it.

"They are allowed to come outside and touch them and feed them.

"But most watched through a window.

"We often have smaller animals, but reindeer are an unusual animal to visit a care home."

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