Family 'distraught' after 20ft Santa goes missing

A man has said his family was "distraught" after their 20ft (6m) inflatable Santa went missing from his garden.

On Friday, Dean Thomas, of Condor Grove in Blackpool, celebrated the "big switch-on" of his family's Christmas lights display, but by Sunday night the festive character had gone missing.

Mr Thomas has now put out a plea for help to find the Santa, which he said cost £800, and shared CCTV online.

Lancashire Police said investigations were ongoing into an alleged theft, but that no arrests had been made.

CCTV footage captured by the family appeared to show a person on the property at 23:25 GMT on Sunday before the Father Christmas decoration was allegedly taken away.

Mr Thomas said his children were worried there could be a repeat incident.

"The community here in Blackpool have been an amazing support, but now we just want it [the inflatable] back."

For more than a decade the Condor Grove Christmas Lights display has raised money for local charities, something Mr Thomas said he was proud of.

"We love supporting charities which get no NHS or government backing, and we want to put smiles on faces and see new people, but this has destroyed us.

"We're doing everything we can, but my kids are distraught. I hope we can get this message out there and find the Santa."

Police are asking anyone with information to come forward.

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