THIEVES have been branded as 'Scrooges' after an eight-foot high Father Christmas was stolen from a Bolton-le-Sands retirement home.

Staff at the Abbeyfield Home in the village's Main Road proudly put the illuminated Santa outside the building last Saturday morning.

But Santa has taken flight - leaving just ropes and electric cables behind.

Ken Clarkson, of the home, told the Citizen: "These people are mindless and I guess they were drunk when they did it.

"They must need a lot of Dutch courage to fight an eight-foot Santa Claus because it must be a scary battle. But they left the straps and wires that held it down - so they might want to come back for them.

"What these people don't understand is they spoil fun for people. And it is coming up to Christmas so these people are nothing but Scrooges. I cannot understand why they would want to take this - it's of no use to them."

Bolton-le-Sands councillor Keith Budden condemned the theft and told the Citizen: "This is a lovely retirement home and the residents get a great deal of pleasure from the decorations. It is just wrong that someone wants to ruin that for them."

Anyone with information should contact police on 01524-63333 or Crimestoppers on 0800-555111.