Thieves ruined a Christmas display when they swiped a life-sized model of Bob the Builder.

The chart-topping workman, who has caused a sensation with his hit 'Bob the Builder', went missing from Michael Burnage's garden in Malines Avenue, Peacehaven.

Mr Burnage spent six weeks making the model of Bob and his cat Pilchard. The cat was left untouched by the vandals. Other models, including Thomas the Tank Engine and Postman Pat, were also left behind.

The display is an annual event in the Burnage household. Mr Burnage usually spends about six months constructing the models as part of a fund-raising intiative for The Royal Alexandra Hospital in Brighton.

Mr Burnage said: "I'm feeling pretty cross about the whole thing. Bob the Builder was extremely popular and he's made a lot of people happy. Now, because some numbskull has stolen him, it's left a huge gap in my display.

"We don't put in all this effort for some idiot to come and steal the models. We just want him back. If someone was to just put him back in his place, I would be happy enough with that."