A VISIT by Father Christmas’s furry friends to Marlow - which appeared under threat this week - will go ahead after a firm stepped in to cover the costs.

Marlow Chamber of Commerce said a repeat of last year’s hugely successful live reindeer pen at its festive Late Night Shopping event could be cancelled after a sponsor dropped out.

But High Wycombe-based Panache Fire Services stepped in to pledge the £1000 to bring the herd along for the Christmas celebrations in and around the High Street next month.

Business development manager Jessica Williams said: “The directors of both our companies live in Marlow and a lot of us take our kids down there.

“We can’t imagine going to the parade and not seeing some reindeer! So we rang them up and said we’d step in.

“We do loads to help the community and we’re always keen to do whatever we can.”

Panache and supplier Reliance Auto Test intervened after Chamber secretary Jo Braybrooke put out an urgent appeal this week for the extra cash towards what is fast becoming a Marlow Christmas tradition.

Mrs Braybrooke said: “I’m absolutely delighted. It was so lovely last year and the kids though it was wonderful so we’re very grateful to them.”

Late Night Shopping evening returns on Thursday, December 4, and will be opened by life-size Star Wars characters - rumoured to include the dark lord himself, Darth Vader.

Any more offers of help should be directed to marlowchamber@computercavern.co.uk