A FAMILY'S display of Christmas lights, worth hundreds of pounds, has been stolen from their garden.

Rick Moat and Sarah Cox, who have two young children, have built up a collection of festive illuminations, which draws visitors from a wide area, at their home in Boyntons, Nettlesworth, near Chester-le-Street. But £600-worth of decorations in their garden were stolen overnight on Saturday. Police are appealing for help to catch the thieves.

Lights and silhouettes attached to the outside of the house were untouched, but those in the garden, bushes and along the drive were taken. Ms Cox said the festive display had been started by her partner four years ago and had become particularly popular with local children.

"It has been getting bigger and bigger every year,'' she said. "It is part of the neighbourhood and it is a part of Christmas. Everybody comes to see it. It is almost the Nettlesworth lights.''

The thieves took Christmas trees, stars, a waving Santa Claus silhouette and a Santa in a sleigh silhouette.

The remaining lights on the house have been taken down, but Mr Moat plans to rebuild the display.

PC Angela Fisher, of Chester-le-Street police, said the raiders struck between 7pm on Saturday and 10am the following morning.

She said that the family were devastated by the theft.

She said: "He had been building up his collection of Christmas lights over the years to the extent that they were a popular attraction with local people.

"Although the lights on the house itself have been left untouched, the ones throughout the garden have been taken. Whoever took them must have had a vehicle to transport them."

Anyone with information is asked to call police, on 0845 60 60 365 or Crimestoppers, on 0800 555 111.