White Witch's reindeer stolen

The reindeer meant to power Tilda Swinton's White Witch across the forests of Narnia have been deported.

16:43 06 July 2004

The reindeer meant to power Tilda Swinton's White Witch across the forests of Narnia have been deported.

While the land of talking beasts and magical creatures did not manage to stop her for a century, it seems the New Zealand government proved more effective.

The latest adaptation of CS Lewis' classic novel "The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe" is being filmed in Middle Earth (New Zealand) and the government confiscated the reindeer.

The Sunday Star-Times reports that the NZ Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry okayed the import of several wolves from America, but drew the line when it came to the twelve reindeer meant to pull the Ice Queen's sleigh.

Due to the outbreak of Q Fever amongst the US reindeer population, the troublesome animals were sent back to the land of their birth.

The movie is currently shooting, starring Dawn French alongside Swinton, Rupert Everett and James McAvoy. "Shrek" director Andrew Adamson will helm the project.