Pub-crawling Santas get armoured vehicle stuck in Cornish hedge

A vintage armoured vehicle filled with Santas had to be freed by police after getting stuck in a Cornish lane.

The Santas, who were believed to be on a pub crawl, got wedged in a hedge at Marsh Lane, near Hayle.

Devon and Cornwall police were called at about 7.40pm on Thursday after reports that a vehicle had been damaged. No one was arrested.

Ian Jepson, who shot video footage of the Santa jam, said the lane was blocked for about two hours.

He said the Santas were on their annual pub crawl. “They shot past me singing and we later found them stuck where the lane narrows.

“They were quite tightly jammed but it says no parking. It was quite funny as they tried to free themselves.”

The footage shows the Santas struggling to move their old army vehicle down the narrow streets as onlookers reprimand them for attempting the manoeuvre.

Several people who had tried to go to Angarrack to enjoy the village’s Christmas lights took to social media.

“Well, that was eventful,” one woman commented.

“An army tank, yes an actual army tank, driven by several inebriated Santas trying to get to the pub in Angarrack who got stuck on the way.”

Another person joked: “I have seen it all now. A tank being driven by several Santas tried to drive into Angarrack, got wedged and blocked the entrance to the village.”

Many people posted videos of the scenes, including showing the tank scraping past a parked car.

“That’s why we couldn’t drive into Angarrack,” one person commented, while another replied: “We were there when the police arrived and they shut the road shortly after. Bet you never guessed that was the reason though.”

The tankful of Santas was also spotted earlier in the day in other towns along the west coast of Cornwall, including St Ives and Helston.

Lisa Charrd, who filmed the group in St Ives, said: “There was a group of Santas in the tank and they were all very friendly and full of Christmas joy.”