When is a reindeer not a reindeer? When it's Rudolph the red nosed camel.
Organisers of the Christmas fair at St Mary's Church, Prittlewell, decided they needed something out of the ordinary to draw the crowds to their fund-raising event.
The quest to find a reindeer suit proved fruitless, but quick-thinking workers at Fancy Dress Hire, in London Road, Leigh, came up with a solution.
The camel costume was the only option left to organisers and they snapped up the offer.
Michael Owen, fete chairman at St Mary's, said: "We've got a red nose and we're going to get some antlers to put on the camel. We are already wondering how we are going to top this next year.
"It's either going to be Rudolph the red nosed rhino or Rudolph the red nosed millipede so we can involve the whole congregation."
The Christmas fair at St Mary's church hall, Victoria Avenue, starts at 10am on Saturday. Rudolph and Santa will arrive from 11.45am.
Oh dear, no deer - Mike Bliss and Michael Owen try the camel on for size
Picture: STEVE O'CONNELL
Converted for the new archive on 19 November 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.
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