Elephants dressed up in Santa costumes

Elephants dressed as Santa handed out Christmas treats to children in Thailand.

The elephants joined a Christmas parade making its way to a school in the Ayutthaya province, just north of Bangkok.

Suphanon Pornsri, an elementary teacher at the school, said: "Elephants and children are two things that really go together. So, the children really like this treat."

Six elephants wearing red body covers, head gear and socks, some of them with Santa beards, danced and performed acrobatic stunts in front of the students.

Thai elephants are an endangered species, and a national symbol in Thailand.