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This is absolutely classic.

A woman can be heard laughing hysterically in this video... and you may well do the same as you watch Santa led into a police riot van at the end of a parade.

Children looked on in disbelief as Father Christmas left the parade in Aberdare in the van.

In the video, someone shouts "Santa's being arrested" as it dawns on the gathered crowds what is happening.

Santa was appearing with his reindeer as part of a festive parade in the town centre on Saturday.

But after a "fantastic event", children were left dumbstruck when he used a police van to leave.

Jade Hughes, from Maerdy, who was at the event said: “There were a lot tears. People couldn’t believe it actually happened. My four-year-old cousin started crying saying, 'Santa can’t bring me toys now'.”

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The 20-year-old said: “It was a fantastic event until a police van reversed the whole length of Market Street and took Santa away.

“It left a lot children upset because they thought he had been arrested. There was a lot of very upset kids thinking Santa wouldn’t be around for them.”

For more classic Only in Wales stories, see our Pinterest page.

Jade said that choosing a police van to transport Santa from the event was a mistake.

“It was very professional until that happened – a great family day but we were very let down by this error.

“Santa was there with the reindeer waving in his sleigh. Really nice. Then the police van reversed, the side door was opened. He got up, walked to the van, jumped in and took off.

“Children started crying while some just looked on in disbelief. It was a fab event until then.”

A South Wales Police spokesman said: "Santa obviously has a busy month ahead, so when he asked if we could provide transport at the end of his sleigh ride through Aberdare town centre to help him get back to the North Pole, we were happy to oblige."

A spokesman for Rhondda Cynon Taf council said: “We are grateful to South Wales Police for assisting Father Christmas during his departure from Aberdare town centre after an amazing Christmas event, which was enjoyed by thousands of people.

“It was always part of the arrangements to transport Father Christmas out of the town centre in a vehicle provided by South Wales Police as quickly and as safely as possible as he has a busy few weeks ahead of him."