A hefty statue of Santa Claus led to a van driver being pulled over by police on the A1(M) near Stevenage on Wednesday, for carrying more than his vehicle was legally allowed. 

On the social media platform X - formerly Twitter - the Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire (BCH) Road Policing Unit explained: "Santa and his sleigh (Mercedes Sprinter Van) were hot-footing it to Stevenage to set up for Xmas but got a little carried away, over-filling the van by 1.5 tonnes.

"Weighing in at a princely 5020kgs, this was prohibited."

The Comet: The van was over-filled by 1.5 tonnes.The van was over-filled by 1.5 tonnes. (Image: BCH Road Policing Unit)

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The van was immobilised by police, but another post by the road policing unit later that day said: "PS don't worry kids.... Santa still has plenty of time to finish his journey and hop back on a more traditional sleigh soon."