FATHER Christmas is best known for getting about on his sleigh, but at a York heritage park he can be found riding on a steam train.

Staff at Murton Park have launched their ever-popular Christmas experience, which includes a 20-minute steam train ride with Santa and his elves.

But the festive fun doesn't stop there, as the park's Viking village has been transformed into an elves' village, where Father Christmas's crew put together all the presents.

There are also robot reindeers, converted from old washing machines.

Site manager and chief elf Dave Thirlwall said: "There are real reindeer as well, they look suspiciously like sheep with fake antlers attached, but I can assure everyone they are reindeer."

Dave said the experience, now into its ninth year, marked the start of Christmas for many York families.

He said: "It is like a moving pantomime. It is great fun, we get 1,000 through on a busy day - the joint is jumping."

Murton Park will stage the festive fun for the next three weekends and on December 22 and 23. Phone 01904 489966 for details.

Updated: 09:56 Monday, December 01, 2003