ANIMAL activists have hit out at a garden centre for a "cruel reindeer event" and urged bosses to scrap the festive show.

For the past decade Hearts Delight in Long Road, Lawford has had a live reindeer display as part of it's Santa's grotto.

This year's festivities are set to kick off with the arrival of Santa and his live reindeer on Sunday in the garden centre car park.

Harwich and Manningtree Standard: On parade: Live reindeer arriving at Hearts Delight in Lawford in 2015.

But Animal Aid, one of the UK’s largest animal rights organisations, has written to Hearts Delight calling for the event to be cancelled.

Tod Bradbury, Animal Aid campaign manager, said the stress of "carting" the reindeer around the country and putting them in busy, noisy environments with bright lights is a huge welfare concern.

He added: "Reindeer should be living free in the tundra, not placed in a busy garden centre.

"Not only is it cruel to transport these often shy, reserved animals around the country and force them into stressful environments, it also gives the wrong impression to the public – in particular, young children.

"It teaches them that animals are mere props and decorations, rather than sentient beings deserving of respect.

Harwich and Manningtree Standard: On parade: Live reindeer arriving at Hearts Delight in Lawford in 2015.

On parade - Live reindeer arriving at Hearts Delight in Lawford in 2015

"We are absolutely sure that Hearts Delight Garden Centre’s motives were related to bringing festive joy to local residents. However, this can be achieved without putting the well-being of animals at risk."

Mr Bradbury added that research by the Veterinary Laboratories Agency shows these specialised Arctic deer suffer when uprooted from their natural habitat, and placed in captivity.

He said the research shows a poor diet, exposure to diseases, and stress are prevalent and lead to a high mortality rate in captive reindeer, regardless of whether they are wild caught or captive bred. ?But Hearts Delight Garden Centre owner Keith Simons says he personally looks after the reindeer each Christmas and takes steps to reduce any chance of stress.

He said: "They come from a farm of over 1,000 in Kent.

"It's no different to horses going to a show where horses are put under pressure to race or jump.

"The reindeer come here and have a very nice time.

"We've had officers from the RSPCA out to visit before and they have been impressed - I can generally be more knowledgeable about them than they can.

"They are kept in a large barn undercover and have straw and hay.

"We only have people in one family at a time - it's not a free for all.

"We've never had a problem, they always go away looking healthy and we keep in touch with how they are at the farm throughout the year."