A WOMAN is gutted after thieves stole a Christmas light display from her garden.

Two 12-inch figurines – a Santa and a snowman – worth £50, were taken from the house in Hill Road, Clacton.

Owner Bernadette Melvin said: “It was obviously vandals. I am very sad.

“Someone had come along and ripped them out from the electrical box, knocking all the decorations over.

“Everybody loved them – they used to light up and go ‘ho ho ho’.

“Kids had said to my husband, ‘is she going to put those decorations up?‘”

Mrs Melvin has put up Christmas lights and decorations at her home since she moved to the area four years ago, and they have become a landmark for children, who look out for them each year.

She said she was making the best of a bad situation and that she would not let it put her off staging displays in the future.

PC Julia Finch, of Clacton police, said: “I’d urge anyone who saw anything on this night to give us a ring.”

If you have any information call Clacton police on 0300 333 4444.