Santa leaves Aberdare parade in police riot van

Santa leaving a Christmas parade in the back of a police riot van is not what children in Aberdare were expecting this week.

Hundreds turned out to see Father Christmas arrive in a more traditional fashion, accompanied by reindeer, but after meeting children and handing out presents, he hopped in the van.

Rhondda Cynon Taf council said it asked South Wales Police to escort Santa from the Cynon Valley parade as quickly and as safely as possible.

Jade Hughes, from Maerdy, Rhondda, and who took the video, said: "It left a lot children upset because they thought he had been arrested."