Mystery knitter 'provides Santa to watch over tree'

A Santa post-box topper is "guarding the Christmas tree", the Yaxley community has said

Villagers said they were thankful a mystery knitter has spread festive joy by providing a Santa to watch over their damaged Christmas tree.

A knitted post box topper, nearly 1ft (0.3m) tall, has appeared on the village green, in Yaxley, near Peterborough.

One resident told the BBC "it's beautiful and it's there to guard the village and the Christmas tree" following a climbing incident that left the tree lopsided with broken branches.

The village has enjoyed knitted and crocheted toppers all through the year including one for King Charles III's coronation in May, and for Halloween.

The parish council said the tree had been straightened up again, but its broken branches could not be fixed

A Halloween-themed crocheted and knitted topper in Yaxley

The tree went up in the last week of November, and a few days later Yaxley Parish Council said in a Facebook post that someone had tried to climb up the Christmas tree.

The post said: "We work really hard at making our village a nice place to live in and recently our patience is being tested.

"We have straightened it again but can't repair the broken branches."

Martin Toynton said: "Santa is guarding the Christmas Tree."

A special knitted topper was placed on the post box in May for the King's coronation

Ashley Briggs, who took photos of the new topper, said: "We don't know who is the mystery knitter; I don't think anyone is aware of them, but they do an amazing job every time.

"The Santa topper is looking out for villagers posting letters.

"It looks good on the green, surrounded by older houses. Whoever it is, thank you for spreading joy and bringing smiles to people's faces."