A VANDAL left a Meltham family feeling deflated after slashing their 8ft light-up inflatable Santa.

But they were determined not to let the attacker ruin their Christmas and have stitched him back up.

The vandal struck in the garden of Graham Walland and Suzanne Ingham's home at Nab Crescent, Meltham, slashing the Santa across its face with a knife.

Graham found the Santa on the ground with the gaping hole in his face early on Tuesday morning.

The couple have three young children, Alex, six, Sam, four and two-year-old Maisy, who are pictured with their mum.

Suzanne used her tailoring skills to stitch Santa back up and he is now once again glowing brightly.

* A Dalton father hit out after his inflatable snowman was slashed and ruined. The vandals had also stubbed cigarettes out on the snowman in Mark Blackburn's garden at Crossfields on Tuesday teatime.

Mark lives with partner Gillian Hill and children Carla, 13, Andrew 11, and six-year-old Stephanie.