A shopkeeper has shared the moment his blow-up Santa appeared to be punched in the face in the early hours of Christmas morning.

CCTV footage shared by Windmill Hill Post Office near Herstmonceux appears to show a scrooge punching an inflatable Father Christmas at around 1am on December 25.

For the last two weeks, the post office and community shop have had decorations both in and outside the shop to ring in the festive season.

Shopkeeper Kevin Teeshan said: "All the village people liked our decorations.

"However on Christmas Eve, about one in the morning, someone hit the inflatable Santa."

The CCTV footage shows an individual running up to the decoration and appearing to tussle with it before leaving in a vehicle.

The Argus: The decoration stood tall by the entrance of the shopThe decoration stood tall by the entrance of the shop (Image: Windmill Hill Post Office)

He said the owner of the shop recieved a call on Christmas morning by a customer who passed by.

"They rung and said 'your Santa outside has, like, fell over'" Kevin said.

The owner came over on Christmas day to discover a puncture near the bottom of the inflatable.

Kevin said: "It's just pointless, and not in the Christmas spirit. It's just a Santa, he doesn't hurt anyone."

 

The Argus: Images posted online by the shop show torn fabric near the bottom of the inflatableImages posted online by the shop show torn fabric near the bottom of the inflatable (Image: Windmill Hill Post Office)

He fears that next year there will not be any decorations outside the shop, over fears a similar incident could occur.

Sussex Police have been contacted for comment.