Father Christmas's traditional mode of transport into Bradford this Christmas has been grounded due to the foot and mouth outbreak.

The man from the ministry has told Rudolph, Comet and the rest of their reindeer pals that they cannot pull Santa's sleigh into his grotto in the Kirkgate Centre on Sunday, November 25.

Centre manager Catherine Riley came up with the idea for the reindeer parade.

And for the last six years the antlered animals have come down from the Cairngorm Reindeer Centre in Scotland - to the delight of the city's youngsters.

But restrictions on animal movements set down by the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs mean herd owners Elizabeth and Alan Smith cannot risk coming into England.

To make sure thousands of eager children do not go disappointed, the reindeers will be replaced by the Horses at Work team from the Bradford Industrial Museum.

And two lucky children will have the chance to ride alongside Santa as his special VIP guests on the day.

Centre manager Catherine Riley said: "The reindeers come from the Cairngorms and belong to the only wild herd left in this country.

"They are currently foot and mouth-free and obviously we don't want to put them in any danger. Our priority has to be their health and safety so we feel this is the best course of action.

"We also want to make sure that the thousands of children who turn out for the magical parade every year aren't disappointed.

"So we've got a pony and trap with a horse in full harness and decorated show horses, and we hope to have some Shetland ponies as well."

Debbie Aspinall, of the Cairngorm Reindeer Centre, said DEFRA would make no exceptions for the reindeers who normally get 80 to 100 bookings a year.

The 37-year-old, who is in charge of the centre's 150-strong herd, said: "Reindeers are cloven-hoofed and so they can catch and carry foot and mouth disease.

"We can only do the Scottish events because we won't come into contact with any farm animals.

"It's a case of us trying to keep the herd free of foot and mouth and then hopefully they will be able to come back to Bradford next year."