Santa threatens trader with gun

A Christmas market Santa was questioned by police after a dispute with a tree seller turned nasty

A FESTIVE market Santa showed he lacked the usual jollity for the role when he threatened a Christmas tree seller next to his grotto with an (unloaded) gun.

The Santa is being replaced today by a new one until Christmas Eve, authorities for Bordeaux’s Christmas market said. They added the tree seller was the Santa’s nephew, so it was a family dispute.

The man is understood to have been released after several hours of questioning in police custody, after the tree seller made a complaint.