Police, Royal Marines and the coastguard have helped "save Christmas" after a reindeer escaped a festive event in the United Kingdom, sparking an eight-hour search.
The reindeer fled on Saturday (local time) from Santa's Enchanted Forest, a festive event held annually in the seaside town of Formby, north of Liverpool.
The animal was eventually discovered on a beach, where it was identified with thermal binoculars before being returned to its owners in Wales.
Southport Offshore Rescue Trust said the Marines, Coastguard, local police and a drone helped to locate the escaped mammal on Formby Beach.
"Christmas is saved thanks to some great work from multiple agencies."
The trust said it received a call at around 4.45pm, asking for assistance in the search for the reindeer.
Merseyside Police had been searching for the animal and called the lifeboat team along with Coastguard due to concerns it could end up in a nearby river.
Quad bikes were used to shepherd the reindeer into some nearby sand dunes where a police drone monitored it.
A vet travelled from nearly 300km away with sedatives to tranqulise the animal with the hope it could then be transferred to a trailer and back to its stable.
They were supported by Royal Marines, who were conducting an exercise at a nearby firing range, and sedated the animal at around 1.20am on Sunday (local time).
SHARE ME