A retired couple say their faith in humanity has been restored after residents came together to replace their stolen Christmas tree.

David and Pauline McCall, who live in Kennington, had decorated a 10ft tree in their front garden every Christmas before thieves swiped it overnight.

But the couple, of Tabret Close off The Pasture, are now proud owners of a new tree after neighbours made contact with Longacres Bybrook Barn garden centre to get a replacement.

Mrs McCall says she has been left "gobsmacked" by the kindness of her neighbours.

"My faith in humanity has been restored," she said.

"Decorating the Christmas tree was something we had always done and the particular tree they thought they would swipe had been there for years.

"But I was absolutely gobsmacked that something so upsetting had turned out to be like this."

Gary Pegden, who lives close to the couple, made contact with Longacres Bybrook Barn garden centre to get a new tree.

More than 15 residents then gathered outside their property on Saturday afternoon to present Mr and Mrs McCall with the new tree.

The pair have also received cards from children, presents and donations - which they have since given to the Salvation Army.

Mr McCall, 68, had planted a miniature tree after thieves took his real one on Saturday, December 8.

He 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 had cut it down to put it in their own front room.

"I was just amazed that anyone would do something like that."