RUDOLPH'S Caledonian cousins trekked down from their home in the Cairngorms of Scotland to pull Santa's sleigh to Ringwood for the town's annual Christmas parade on Friday night.

In a damp but far from dismal start to the Christmas season six reindeer including two calves towed Santa around the town behind the Spidermen of the Bournemouth Carnival Band before landing in the Furlong for a photo session with youngsters who queued patiently to meet the jolly gentleman.

The procession also included carnival princesses in a fleet of vintage Austin 7 cars and a traditional nativity tableau with Joseph leading a donkey carrying Mary and accompanied by a flock of shepherds, three wise men and a host of angels.

Reindeer were not the only ones sporting antlers on the night as New Forest West MP Desmond Swayne entered the Christmas spirit by donning a pair of comic horns to join chamber of trade chairman Barbara Kennar on a tour of the town centre shops to judge the window display and staff fancy dress contest.

And it was unusual headgear - bowls of spaghetti - worn by manager Vicki Elder and assistant Nicky Bell at the Du Barry boutique in the Market Place which won the best dressed shop staff prize.