HUNDREDS of families braved wind and rain to turn out to greet Santa Claus and his reindeer at Bradford's festive Reindeer Parade today.

Starting outside the Kirkgate Centre at 10am, the parade was led by the West Yorkshire Fire Brigade Band and weaved through the city centre to City Park before returning to the shopping centre.

Along the route children waved in delight at seeing Santa's sleigh, and many were wearing their own antlers, which were given out by the Kirkgate Centre.

After the parade Santa retired to his grotto on the second floor of the centre, where he will remain until Christmas Eve.

The six reindeer which helped pull the sleigh were then put in a pen outside the centre for families to watch.

The Lord Mayor of Bradford, Councillor Joanne Dodds, who took part in the parade, said: "I wasn't sure it would go ahead because of the rain but thankfully it has held off and the parade has been lovely. We were blessed, Santa must have had something to do with it."