A SANTA'S sleigh has been found abandoned behind a community centre.

The sleigh, along with a model reindeer, was discovered behind the Seedfield Centre, off Parkinson Street in Bury, yesterday.

Used for charity Christmas celebrations, the sleigh had previously belonged to Bury Lions, who had agreed to donate the sleigh to another charity, Buddy's for Children With Autism, based at The Rock, for collection from the Seedfield Centre.

However, the sleigh was never collected, and it has since been vandalised and a trailer it was loaded on has gone missing.

The Lions, part of the world's largest service organisation, have agreed to remove the items and dispose of them.

Malcolm Evans, Bury Lions club secretary, said: "The sleigh is ours. We have not used it the last few Christmases.

"Another charity had said that they could make use of it, and so we agreed to donate it to them.

"However, they were not able to take it straight away, and so we parked it at Seedfield, in good faith, we might add, alongside our container, awaiting collection by members of that charity.

"We have since discovered that it has been vandalised, and sadly is now in no condition to donate to anyone.

"The decision was made, at our last Club meeting, to await more favourable weather conditions, and then proceed to dismantle it and dispose of it.

"We would have been there on Wednesday but for the rain.

"The sleigh is now not on its trailer, the last time we saw it it was, so somebody has had that away."

A spokesman for Bury Council said: "Everybody loves Santa, but this is a present we could do without.

"We are grateful that Bury Lions have come forward, and would encourage people to dispose of their unwanted goods and rubbish in the proper ways."

Buddy's for Children With Autism refused to comment.