Thieves wreck festive lights (From Stroud News and Journal)

Thieves wreck festive lights

A DAZZLING display of festive lights have been hacked down by vandals and thieves. Christmas cheer in Langtoft Road, Stroud ran out on Sunday night when the light display was targeted.

On Monday morning car production worker Kevin Brown, 37 found rope lights ripped from their sockets and his specially-bought decorations gone.

Bare wires lay in the garden where thieves had cut the lights free, including a set in the shape of father Christmas.

A £40 set of fun skiing penguins was also taken.

"I try to do something special to celebrate Christmas and someone goes and does a disgraceful thing like this," said Mr Brown. "I did not expect anything like this to ever happen. The display was up last year and it was fine."

Mr Brown, who is married with two children, made a special effort to make this year's display bigger and better than the last and has spent hundreds of pounds on lights and figures.

"Our kids and relatives were really excited about it," he said. "It was like a big welcoming sign to Langtoft Road. I just wonder about the mentality of these people."

Stroud police are currently investigating the theft and spokesman Marie Watton said police would appreciate any leads from the public.

Anyone who has any information on this crime can call Gloucestershire police on 0845 090 1234.