RETIRED police officer Steve Brown, who spends weeks every year putting up Christmas lights in the front garden of his Devizes home to raise money for charity, was devastated when vandals struck.

He said: “We have been doing this for years and it brings pleasure to so many people. I was so angry when I went outside. It was really devastating and for a little while I was going to just not bother any more.

“But then so many people told me how much the lights meant to them and offered to help and my faith in human nature was restored.

“We have had some lovely messages of support and I know a lot of people are very angry about what happened.”

He and his wife Jenny, who for many years were childminders at their home in Brickley Lane, originally started putting up Christmas lights to see the excitement on the faces of the youngsters they looked after.

Mrs Brown, who can remember the name of every child she has ever looked after either in her own home or previously at Heathcote nursery, said: “It all started quite small with a nativity scene and then just grew and grew.”

In recent years the couple have asked for donations for different charities and this year are fundraising for the Wiltshire Air Ambulance.

They make sure no money is left in the garden and ask for people to put money through the letter box.

Mr Brown said each year he puts the lights up with the help of his son Jason and grandson Nathan. He said: “We do it over a two week period and it is lovely it is now a three generation thing.

“Everyone living around here is very supportive of the lights. It was definitely a deliberate act of vandalism as the wire was cut in so many places.”

Mr Brown was in the front room of the house on Thursday evening when he suddenly noticed at about 7.45pm the lights had gone out.

He said: “I went outside to check and saw the cuts in the wire. It has been done by mindless idiots.”

When Mr Brown went to Wilkinsons in Devizes to buy new lights he was delighted that not only did the store donate some new ones that a customer in the queue for the till also handed him a box of lights after overhearing the story.

He said: “It was such a lovely gesture and helped restore my faith in people.”

Mr and Mrs Brown, who have two children, seven grandchildren and four great grandchildren, have also been supported by fellow Christmas light enthusiast Joe Hughes who lights up his own home in nearby Waylands.

He said: “This happened to me a few years ago but I was very upset when I heard this had happened.” There have been other reports in the Brickley Lane area of Christmas decorations being stolen or broken. Police are investigating.