This Suffolk family managed to catch a glimpse of what one could call a Christmas miracle – a herd of snow white albino deer crossing the road ahead of them before playfully hopping away into the horizon.

Thomas Oliver filmed the scene when he was on his way home to Beccles after a birthday lunch. Driving with his wife and kids, Oliver said they had just passed Henham Park when he saw a large herd approaching the road.

Oliver and his wife couldn't quite agree if they were deer or cow until the car came closer. He got his phone out to record and confirmed that the animals were, in fact, albino deer.

The species is known formally as the Seneca white deer, with the presence of a recessive genes responsible for their all-white coat. Sightings have been reported in the UK, but are rare.

"It was such a beautiful moment to witness these elusive creatures up so close and in such a sizeable group," Oliver said. "I’ve never seen albino deer before so to see a handful like this was incredible, especially so close to Christmas."

Adding to the holiday spirit, the kids in the backseat mentioned Santa and asked if the herd might have been his.

As they drove off, Oliver and his family watched the silhouettes of the frolicking deer bouncing against the glow of the sinking sun as the herd made their way towards the woods.

"As a professional photographer I wish I’d had a better camera with me in order to better capture the moment," Oliver added. "But it will still be a sight that will remain with me forever."

On Saturday, my wife, kids and I had been in Southwold having lunch for my birthday. On our way home to Beccles, we’d just passed Henham Park - the home of the Latitude festival and I saw the heard emerge from the woods on the other side of the field. I’ve lived in Suffolk all of my life and have seen deer many times before, however this was the largest group I’ve ever seen. I said “Wow, look at all of those deer!” To which my wife, Jem responded “No, they’re cows!” At this point we both noticed the deer jumping over a meter high as they ran across the field!
As the deer aproched the road we realised they were going to cross, so my wife slowed the car down as I fumbled for my phone to see if I could get a photo. I managed to start recording as the car came to a stop and the deer crossed. It was such a beautiful moment to witness such elusive creatures up so close and in such a sizeable group. I’ve never seen Albino deer before so to see a handful like this was incredible, especially so close to Christmas.
The kids in the back of the car mentioned Father Christmas and were questioning if they were his reindeer. It really has made Christmas even more special. As we continued our journey and the recording ends I looked back across the field to watch them, the sun was sinking low over the horizon and the silhouettes of frolicking deer could be seen playfully hopping and jumping toward the woods. As a professional photographer I wish I’d had a better camera with me in order to better capture the moment, but it will still be a sight that will remain with me forever.