A COMMUNITY has rallied round a woman whose Christmas lights were targeted by a vandal.

Residents in Dalton have come to the aid of Deborah Richardson after a youth appeared to have cut through Christmas light outside her home.

Members of the community have now provided new lights following the incident.

Dave Taylor, the chairman of Dalton's Community Action Group, was among those who helped.

Alongside an electrician friend he brought new lights and mended the ones that were damaged.

He said: "When I heard what had happened, I thought 'there's no need for this.

"I don't know what's up with these kids at the moment.

"As soon as I saw it I thought here we go again.

"She's had a very hard time this year and we just wanted to help her out."

Mr Taylor said JTF Mega Discount Warehouse also provided replacement lights.

The action group chairman was pleased by the reaction.

"I told her 'don't let this spoil your Christmas," he said.

"She couldn't believe it - she was over the moon.

"It all sorted now and she'll have the best lit house in Dalton.

"We want to build community spirit and get the town noticed for how good the community is."

The home appeared to have been the unexplained target of a Christmas vandal on Sunday night.

A youth was caught on camera walking to the outside wall of the house and appearing to cut through a line of Christmas on a hedge.

Appealing to the public to help catch the youth, the Dalton Community Action Group said on social media: "Please help the police locate this person.

"There is no excuse for this type of behavior.

"The owner was devastated that all her work and cost to brighten up her little piece of the world and bring some joy to her family and the residents around her ended by the hands of this fly by night electrician. If you know who he is please email 101Emails@cumbria.police.uk Or ring 101 and report it.

"Let's put an end to all this anti-social behaviour and stand up to these youths who terrorize the community."