By Hayley Robinson

Reindeer are helping a company boss beat the recession during the winter months.

Michael Gallacher, owner of the plant hire firm GCS Group in Sittingbourne, is one of a handful of people across the country to rent out real life reindeer for special occasions.

During the weeks up to Christmas the reindeer, all imported from Lapland, make numerous appearances at Santa’s Grotto’s, garden centres, parties and other festive celebrations generating Mr Gallacher an extra income.

He said: "We’ve been renting out reindeer for about six years but I’ve really stepped up the reindeer hire in the light of the recession. You have to look at alternative ways of generating business and fortunately they are proving to be a big hit. They are really popular at this time of year, as you can imagine. What can be better for a child going to Santa’s Grotto and seeing the ‘real’ Rudolph, Donner or Blitzen pulling a sleigh. It makes their Christmas."

Despite the recession the GCS Group is still going from strength to strength and Mr Gallacher has even expanded his fleet by buying four brand new JCB machines which can be hired out by customers.

And in a festive twist the new machines will be used to deliver ‘presents’ of hay bales to the reindeer so the herd can enjoy their own version of Christmas dinner during a popular time of year for their services.