Reindeer on the Christmas menu at Lidl

Budget supermarket Lidl will be selling an unusual seasonal delicacy - reindeer meat.

The German-owned chain is about to launch a multi-million pound advertsing campaign aimed at wooing middle class shoppers. The advert has been be voiced by comedian Harry Enfield and features music by One Direction.

But it is the company's decision to put Rudolph on the menu which is likely to to be the biggest talking point.

Packets of the frozen meat will sell at £7.99 each. Other products in the Deluxe range include a whole cooked lobster for £5.99, a large Serrano ham for £39.99, a three fish roast for £5.69 and caviar for just £1.49 a pot.

A spokesman said: "The Deluxe Reindeer steaks are back by popular demand. We always have an enormously positive response from customers.

‘We are selling them this Christmas as part of our premium range of products, which also includes other luxury meats such as venison, quail and partridge.

"The animals are slaughtered in strict accordance with EU guidelines in a EU certified slaughterhouse, where the animals are stunned prior to the slaughtering process. We takes issues of animal welfare as well as environmental protection very seriously."

However, aninal lovers were less than impressed.

A spokesman for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) said: “The idea of ‘Rudolph’ being slaughtered and cut up for dinner makes a mockery of the Christmas spirit of peace and good will to all.”