VANDALS have been branded "sick" by a Breightmet couple after a Christmas lights display in their garden was trashed.

Children from all over the estate had flocked to see the lights outside the home of Dave and Joan Roberts.

The couple were among several householders in Brodick Drive who created their own garden illuminations.

But now the killjoy vandals have put an end to the seasonal merry making. A Christmas reindeer -- a feature of the light show which attracted a lot of attention from passers-by -- has been wrecked.

Mrs Roberts, a freelance hairdresser, said: "It looked lovely and we had a lot of people stop and say how nice it looked. It had feet which looked like they were moving. But thieves have ripped it apart leaving the lights strewn across the lawn. It is sick.

"These lights give pleasure to lots of people. Grandparents bring their children to see the displays."

She today issued a Christmas warning to other householders urging them to ensure their lights are firmly tied down.

Mrs Roberts said: "I love the lights. It brightens up the winter months which can be so dreary. These thieves have taken away a lot of pleasure from so many.

"You don't need to go to Blackpool to see the illuminations -- it's here in Breightmet!"

But the couple are determined not to let the thieves ruin their Christmas show.

They will re-build the reindeer so that their 10-month-old grandson Jadon and others can still catch a glimpse of the magic.

The attack has been reported to the police.