A FAMILY is appealing for the return of the missing piece in its Christmas lights show.

Mean thieves left the Montague family feeling unfestive after taking the centrepiece of the display adorning their home in Witton Gilbert, near Durham City.

The Santa in Helicopter feature, a £60 decoration with 396 bulbs, was taken from their garage roof between Friday night and Saturday morning.

They believe the thieves used a wheelie bin to climb on to the roof of the family's people carrier, from where they climbed on to the garage to remove the bulky decoration.

The theft has left Carol and Paul Montague annoyed, and upset children Sam, 11, and six-year-old Josh.

They had only recently added the helicopter with attached rope lighting, to their increasingly lavish seasonal display.

Mrs Montague said: "I think people in the area generally liked the display and, given that it's meant to be the season of goodwill, this leaves a bit of a nasty taste in the mouth.

"We didn't even bother putting the other lights on the following evening, but then we thought that was not fair for the kids, so we have had them on since.

"But we have kept a vigilant watch in case they try to steal any of the other decorations."

Anyone who has inmformation on the whereabouts of the decoration, or has seen one of similar description, measuring 101cm by 58cm by 6.5cms, is asked to ring Durham Police, on their non-emergency line, on 0845-606 0365.