Four generations enjoy 'magical' vintage Co-op sleigh ride

Four generations of one family rode on the vintage sleigh ride

Members of a family, who have taken a ride on a vintage mechanical sleigh, say it was so magical they feel like they have already celebrated Christmas.

Four generations of the family, including 102-year-old May Chinnock along with her great-grandchildren, climbed aboard the sleigh at Coventry Transport Museum on Saturday.

She had been taking her children and grandchildren on the ride since it opened in the city's Co-op in the 1950s.

"Mum had a little tear in her eye," after the ride, explained daughter-in-law Viv Chinnock.

"She wiped it away, and thought it was all amazing," she added.

"Her first words were, 'I never thought I'd see this again'."

Colin Chinnock was taken on the ride as a child in the 1950s

She and husband Colin had visited the attraction with their own son and daughter, now in their 40s, and six grandchildren, aged from three to 14.

"We had warned the grandchildren it wouldn't be technology as they knew it," said Mr Chinnock, 74.

"We told them it was simple for us when we were little, but it really held the same magic.

"Some days don't quite work, and others are just memorable, and that was just a memorable day."

May Chinnock (centre) visited the attraction with son Colin and daughter-in-law Viv

The family had been treated like celebrities, added his wife, "and Father Christmas had all the time in the world for us".

"It was like stepping back in time.

"And at the end he said to me and Colin, 'I remember you two, I've got to have my photograph with you'".

"We feel like we've had our Christmas now," she added. "We've all been together and had such a lovely time."