A motorcycle enthusiast, whose birthday is on Christmas Day, has been spotted riding around Orpington on a makeshift Santa sleigh - dressed up as one of The Muppets.

Electrician John Rixon, of Wotton Green, St Mary Cray, who dressed up as The Muppets favourite, Animal, transformed his motorbike into a bright red sledge complete with two reindeer.

The biker was on his way to Rutherford School, in Croydon, for an annual charity ride around the town organised by Phoenix Motorcycle Training.

Each motorcyclist taking part in the Phoenix Toy Run donated a festive gift to youngsters who attend the independent school, which caters for pupils with special educational needs.   

Mr Rixon, who turns 30 on Christmas Day, said lots of other motorists honked their horns and passersby waved at him as he rode through Orpington and along the High Street.

He told News Shopper: “It’s not the normal thing you see on the roads every day.

“I have covered my bike in fur before and turned it into a reindeer but this year, I thought I’d go bigger.

“The material I used to make the sleigh was lightweight but the one thing that did affect me on the day was the very, very strong wind.

“The reindeer are actually from a garden centre and the sleigh I built in about three or four days.”

Mr Rixon has been known by fellow bikers as Animal since he dressed up as the character for an earlier charity ride.   

The dad-of-three added: “My kids absolutely loved the bike – they kept asking to sit on it.”

Not surprisingly, Mr Rixon won the award for the ride’s Best Dressed Bike.

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