An animal rights protest group has condemned plans to use reindeer at a town centre Christmas event.

A handful of members of Animal Aid this lunchtime picketed the offices of Dover District Council, organisers of the Meet the Reindeers event planned for the Market Square in Dover this Saturday.

Visitors are being offered the chance to see the two animals, from the Bethersden Reindeer Centre, alongside Father Christmas.

The campaigners - who dressed in reindeer costume - are calling on the council to ditch events featuring live animals.

A spokesman for Animal Aid said: "Reindeer are social creatures, who naturally live in large herds for protection.

"They can feel nervous being kept in small groups.

"Christmas events are certainly not suitable environments for reindeer, who are often confined to small pens where they have nowhere to hide from noisy, excitable people, demanding interaction.

"These conditions can be hugely stressful and have severe impacts on the health and welfare of reindeer."

The council has told KentOnline it will go ahead with the weekend's event as planned, but will use feedback it receives on the day to inform its plans for future events.

It says the two reindeer with have their handlers with them throughout the event, which is scheduled to run from 10am to 3pm.

A spokesman for DDC said: "We do appreciate the issues that have been raised, and want to reassure everyone that the welfare of the reindeer remains paramount.

"We have looked into this matter carefully, and two officers visited the Reindeer Centre to be assured the reindeer received the best care and would not in any way be distressed by the event.

'We would not have booked the reindeer if we thought they would in any way be distressed or mistreated...'

"All documentation and animal welfare licences have been checked.

"The reindeer will be at the Market Square for a limited number of hours, and all precautions will be taken to ensure that their continued wellbeing is maintained throughout the event.

"We would not have booked the reindeer if we thought they would in any way be distressed or mistreated."