UPDATED: 08:54 03/12/09 A REINDEER which narrowly escaped with her life last Christmas when her grotto home was destroyed by fire is enjoying being the centre of attention once again.

Donner was badly burned when flames tore through outbuildings at The Farm Shop at Willow House in Wigginton Road in December last year.

While her stable-mate Dancer, escaped the burning building, Donner ended up trapped and badly burned before being rescued by, David Pulleyn, one of the owners of the business.

Fire investigators later discovered the blaze had been caused by an electrical fault which occurred when a rat bit through an underground armoured cable. Donner, who is four-years-old suffered cuts to her back, two damaged hooves and lost much of her fur.

Lyn King, co-owner of The Farm Shop, spent the next seven months with her neighbour Alison Pulleyn nursing Donner back to health.

She said: “Alison owns the farm next door to us and she took her in because we had no stable because it had burned down. She helped me bathe Donner twice a day and clean her wounds.”

Thanks to the efforts of the two ladies, Donner has now made a near full recovery and has joined Dancer once again this Christmas to meet visitors to The Farm Shop’s Winter Wonderland attraction, as well as getting out and about.

Last week she met children from Smartypants nursery in Castlegate, who were thrilled to have Father Christmas and his reindeers visit them.

Mrs King said: “Donner is back to her stubborn, comical self. I think it was her temperament which kept her alive.

“She is back and well and raring to go.”

Anyone wishing to meet Donner and Dancer can visit them on Saturday at their home at The Farm Shop. The pair will also be at Monks Cross on Sunday.

The two reindeer will also be meeting visitors every day at The Farm Shop’s Winter Wonderland attraction, from December 12 to 24.

For details, visit thefarmshopyork.co.uk