Before their global gallop across the skies on Christmas Eve, two reindeer visited St Edwards Catholic primary in Sheerness.

Tinsel and Star were brought to the New Road school by Medway-based Mobile Farm.

Children were spellbound by the creatures and got to pat as well as feed them.

They were also given lots of information about the animals – learning, for example, that reindeer make clicking noises with their hooves to find each other in blizzards.

It was also revealed, that as well as having a red nose, Rudolph has a hairy hooter to stop it freezing.

And pupils were told that reindeer exhale cold air to retain warmth. But the burning question for most children was: “How do reindeer fly?”

According to Mobile Farm staff, the animals are left in a field on Christmas Eve so Father Christmas can collect them when he needs them.

Caroline Wiles, the school’s business manager, said the visit was a huge success.

“The children had a lovely time,” she said. “Listening to the youngest pupils talking and asking questions about the reindeer was magical.”