Keith WarburtonSANTA prankster Keith Warburton has revealed how he kept up a year-long joke after abducting a model Father Christmas from a village pub.

Mr Warburton and his helpers arranged for Santa to blitz The Duke in Bratton with more than 160 postcards depicting his travels round the globe.

After a year 'on the run' the law finally caught up with Father Christmas and a prison officer escorted him to The Duke on December 19.

Even then landlords Ian and Marion Overend were kept in the dark about Mr Warburton's scheme, but after word got out the sprightly pensioner spilled the beans.

The 65-year-old, who lives in Westbury Road, Bratton, said: "We tried to spread the blame onto different people during the year.

"I think there were a few suspects and I was in the frame, but the landlords didn't know until New Year's Eve."

Mr Warburton's chief accomplices were his son and daughter and he admitted the idea snowballed after a lively New Year celebration for 2004.

He said: "I woke up on New Year's morning and Santa was sat on my chair and I couldn't remember how I got home.

"I went up to the White Horse to clear my head and took him up with me. I took a picture then and thought, let's do some more."

Soon Santa was ringing bells on Lundy Island, visiting sites as far afield as Thailand and Switzerland and entertaining regulars at The Duke.

Mr Warburton admits he is now at a bit of a loose end, but hopes his stunt caused a few laughs.