VANDALS who deliberately damaged a grandmother’s festive lights have been labelled “mindless” by their victim.

Carol Kelly, 53, woke on Wednesday morning to find two rope lights outside her house in Horspath Road, Cowley, Oxford, had been cut.

The 10ft long blinking lights were part of a festive display on her house which includes a giant Christmas star.

Mrs Kelly and her family have put on a display every Christmas for the past five years.

The mother-of-four, who also has six grandchildren, said: “I’ve had the Christmas lights up for a few years now and the neighbours love it.

“I really like Christmas and the lights are a bit of fun and something for all the children to enjoy. It’s nothing too garish, I think they’re pretty.

“I like to feel Christmassy and really don’t know why anyone would want to do this.”

Mrs Kelly, a teaching assistant at Mabel Pritchard Primary School, in Blackbird Leys, has reported the attack to police.

Officers believe the festive lights were cut at about 10pm on Tuesday and are appealing for anyone with information to contact them.

Mrs Kelly said: “It looks like they cut the wires to the lights with a knife.

“I think it’s probably more worrying that someone was out at that time of night armed with a knife.

“It must have been kids out and about looking for kicks.

“But they are just mindless vandals who aren’t in the Christmas spirit. It’s a bit ‘Bah Humbug’.

“They might think it’s a fun thing to do but for me and my family it isn’t very funny.”

The two rope lights, which cost up to £60, were draped over the family’s front garden fence and a tree.

Mrs Kelly said: “It has upset me but I’d like to get some more rope lights.

“I just hope no one thinks it’s funny to do it again.”

Anyone with information or anyone who saw anyone in Horspath Road at about 10pm on Tuesday should contact police on 08458 505505 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.