A LETTER-WRITER has launched a hate campaign against Christmas decorations on a housing estate.

Families have been targeted for their "cheap and tacky" taste in festive lights by a mysterious letter-writer, known only as The House Doctor.

The author posted letters to five houses on the private Mickle Dales estate, in Redcar.

He or she wrote: "Your neighbours have to look at this crap - have some dignity. We don't want to look like a council estate."

The campaign began on December 11, when mother-of-three Linda Leech received a letter.

The writer said: "Starting with the worst. You are a detached house - I would expect more taste from you.

"It looks like a cross between a bingo hall and a brothel at Christmas. I have never seen anything as tacky/common/ cheap in my life."

Mrs Leech, 36, said: "I laughed at first, but it really is upsetting.

"The wording of the letter is personal. We have been targeted specifically. Whoever it is, is sick and miserable."

But it emerged last night that it is not just Christmas that offends The House Doctor.

Other residents have been on the receiving end, including Jane Sadler, 32, who is thought to have been the first victim.

In a letter to her in September, The House Doctor wrote: "What on earth have you put a palm tree outside your front door for?

"This is Redcar not Barbados."

Cleveland Police said no offence had been committed.