CHILDREN and staff at the Stepping Stones day nursery were suprised to come in for breakfast last week and find a deer in their back garden.

Nursery manager Julie Molton said: "My senior staff member Theresa came in at 7.15am and found the deer, it must have jumped over the fence because there is no other way to get in."

Two men from the Wildlife Rescue Centre came to the nursery on Ashcroft Road, Cirencester, and took the deer to safety.

Mrs Molton said: "We moved the children well out of the way but they were all looking out of the window and asking if it was Rudolph."

For a picture of the deer visit www.wiltsglosstandard.co.uk