Reindeer visit care home as Christmas treat

Dancer and Prancer paid a visit to residents of Rusthall Lodge care home

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."

This is the fourth annual reindeer visit to the care home

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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