Marathon Santa's tractor tow pulled over

TRENTO , Italy, Dec. 22 (UPI) -- A Santa-bearing sleigh pulled over by Italian police was not being pulled by reindeer, but by a slow-moving tractor, officials said.

Witnesses said the arrival of Santa Claus at the finish line of a Christmas charity marathon Sunday outside the village of Trento was delayed when police pulled over the tractor pulling the sleigh and fined the driver for blocking traffic and not having a road permit, ANSA reported Monday.

About 500 runners dressed as the jolly Christmas elf participated in the race and beat the intended finish line greeting, St. Nick and his sleigh, to the end point, onlookers said.