Thieves have stolen a 10ft Christmas tree complete with tinsel, baubles and lights from a pensioner's front garden - forcing him to replace it with a miniature version.

David McCall, 68, planted the tree at his Ashford home 10 years ago and decorates it every year.

But on Saturday morning he awoke to discover the tree had been removed from the small plot in his front garden.

Mr McCall, who lives in Tabret Close, Kennington, said: "One of my neighbours noticed it had gone at 5am and told me.

"It was a big tree, it was about one-metre-and-a-half wide - you wouldn't have got it in the back of a car.

"It wasn't about the value of it, it was the thought that someone has cut it down to put it in their own front room.

"I'm just amazed that anyone would do something like that."

Mr McCall has since put a miniature tree in the same spot.

After hearing the news, residents in Kennington have clubbed together to find a replacement tree for Mr McCall.

One resident has made contact with Longacres Bybrook Barn garden centre to get a new tree, while another posted a card and money to Mr McCall - which he has since donated to the Salvation Army.

The incident has not been reported to police.