RESIDENTS who have raised more than £11,000 in aid of Lymington's Oakhaven Hospice have been rocked by the theft of a Father Christmas from their fundraising display.

The eight households in the town's Kerry Close are also breathing a sigh of relief that the thoughtless theft didn't cause a fire.

Thieves moved in some time after midnight on Saturday, climbed on to a garage roof and stole the eight feet tall and four feet wide Santa Claus from the display of lights set up on the eight houses which raised £3,000 two years ago and £8,000 last year.

The £75 inflatable Father Christmas had been a donation to the lighting scheme by the DIY giant B&Q.

But because he had been stolen, resident Brian Perrett explained, the time clock-controlled transformer driving the pump which inflated him overheated and residents only just got to it and switched it off in time to prevent a fire.

"There was a smell of burning and smoke was coming from it," said resident Brian Perrett.

He added: "The people who stole it climbed up, untied its connectors and then ran off with it.

"How pathetic it is that anyone can do this after all the work we put in.

"Raising money for Oakhaven is very important to Lymington and they do need the money.

"Last year, it was touch and go whether they could keep the place open.

"One of the reasons we collect so much is the cause we are collecting for," he said.

Anyone with information should contact Lymington Police on 0845 045 45 45.