Bristol knitting group saddened by Christmas topper theft

The group had knitted the Christmas topper to raise money for a children's cancer charity

A knitting group has been left shocked and saddened after its Christmas postbox topper, which took months of work, was stolen.

Avon and Somerset Police said they were told it was stolen from Badminton Road in Downend, Bristol, at around 01:30 GMT on 17 December.

Downend Fabrics Plus Knit & Natter group said it took two-and-a-half months to knit the topper for charity.

The knitted scene from The Snowman has been replaced with a snowman head.

But the group said it is no replacement for the "magnificent" one that stood in its place.

The original post box topper has been replaced with a sad snowman

Group member Tina Jefferies said the topper was raising money for the children's cancer charity, Raeyah's Hands of Support.

A QR code was attached to the original topper, so shoppers and residents could scan the code on their phones and donate.

"It's thoughtless that people can do something like that," said Ms Jefferies.

"This has not only saddened the ladies whose hard work creating, it but has also deprived the community of much joy, especially the children and the charity of donations."

The knitting group, which has been running for five years out of the Fabrics Plus shop in Downend, meet every Wednesday.

They have knitted toppers for the Platinum Jubilee and Remembrance day. They also knit hats and gloves for premature babies and homeless people.

The topper featured characters from the film "The Snowman"

"They are a lovely group of ladies who enjoy socialising, knitting and crochet," said Robin Honeywill, owner of Fabrics Plus.

"It's really sad, not just because of the time and effort they spent on knitting the topper, but also because of the local charity they were trying to support."

But the women decided not to be discouraged for too long and put on the sad snowman topper on the post box.

"We wanted to do something to lift people's spirits and to make them laugh," said Ms Jefferies.