VIDEO: US 'Santa' shot by pellet gun as he delivered toys

A man dressed as Santa delivering toys in the US was shot in the back with a pellet gun as he walked down the street.

Police in Washington DC say the man heard a popping sound and felt a sharp pain in the incident yesterday morning, and is recovering.

A video posted on the website of WJLA-TV shows the man waving and walking down the street and exclaiming: “This is awesome.”

He starts to say “Merry Christmas” when suddenly he turns around, shouts in pain and says he has been shot in the back with a pellet gun.

He was taken to a hospital but is OK.

The man’s name was not released, but he says on the video he is glad no one else got hurt.