A box filled with letters for Father Christmas has disappeared from a village pub.

The festive postbox was taken from The White Horse, in Bearsted, on Saturday, leaving many children disappointed their wish lists won't make it to the North Pole.

Over several weeks staff have asked all their younger visitors to write their names, ages and whether they have been naughty or nice on a special note and post it.

Sadly, when they arrived for work on Sunday they realised the box, which had more than a 100 letters inside, was nowhere to be seen.

They searched the whole building from top to bottom, as well as the garden, but couldn't find it.

Georgina Graham, shift supervisor at the pub, said: "It is really quite upsetting. The postbox was filled with wishes.

"We made such an effort to make it so full of Christmas spirit and then someone goes and does this, it is quite unbelievable.

"It can't be that far, someone just needs to own up to what they have done.

"It is waterproof, they could just leave it outside the door and that would be fine by us.

"We are just really hoping someone has a conscience and brings it back."

Michael Campbell, the deputy manager, said: "Someone has obviously woken up to a postbox. I can see the funny side of it but the children aren't going to."

The owners have upped their Christmas spirit this year, introducing the new festive mail service and putting up their floor to ceiling 12-foot tree covered in baubles and lights.

They hope the box, which cost more than £100, will be returned with all the young people's letters inside.

In the meantime, children can hand their letters over to members of staff who promise to pass them to Father Christmas.

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