One of Leicester's best-loved Christmas characters hit the streets last night – but the traditional festive event was not quite the same.

Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and his sleigh were banned from moving.

After 59 years of the firefighters' Rudolph Run, there are worries that the current vehicle, made out of an old Robin Reliant three-wheeled car, may not be roadworthy.

So, on the advice of the Rudolph Committee, which owns the vehicle, it will no longer be going along the city's roads under its own power.

Fire service spokeswoman Amanda Kelly-Pike said: "Usually, Rudolph goes around the city on its own.

"But there are concerns that Rudolph is not a roadworthy vehicle and the Rudolph Committee has asked us to bring him out on a flatbed lorry instead.

"So now, we will have static points where we will be having collections with Rudolph."

The change in the committee's policy is nothing to due with any new laws, but because of doubts the vehicle was ever roadworthy.

An agreement had been made with police in the past that the vehicle would be allowed on the roads.

But several decades on, the committee has decided to err on the side of caution.

Committee secretary Nicola Finnie said: "We're extremely safety conscious and for everyone's benefit we decided it would be better this way. We haven't yet decided what will happen in future years."

Last night, Rudolph was at the annual Fire Service carol concert at Trinity Methodist Church, in Narborough Road, Leicester.

Watch Manager Tommy Hearn, of the Red Watch at Leicester's Southern Fire Station, said he was hopeful the annual collection, which raised almost £14,000 for various charities last year, will still be as successful.

He said: "We used to take Rudolph around the estates but now we can't.

"We will do static displays instead and, hopefully, it will be okay.

"The city centre collections by the Clock Tower are always our best fund-raising days, and they won't be any different."

Chief Fire Officer Dave Webb, who attended the carol service, said: "Rudolph has been a part of Leicester life for a long time. People are used to seeing him.

"It's a shame we have to change the way we do things, but hopefully it will still raise the same amount of money."

Cheryl Broughton, 25, from Braunstone, said Rudolph did not seem the same standing still.

She said: "Rudolph used to come around the estate every Christmas when I was little and all the kids used to run along behind. We used to follow him up Narborough Road.

"It's a real shame that won't happen any more."

Jo Dean, 43, from Broughton Astley, added: "It raises cash for a good cause and it's slower than a milk float, so it's a real pity they have to change things."

Last year, the Rudolph Run raised £13,824 for charities including Leicestershire Down's Syndrome Group, Wishes for Kids and The Laura Centre.

The committee has not decided which charities will benefit this year.