A shopkeeper has shared the moment his blow-up Santa appeared to be punched in the face in the early hours of Christmas morning.
CCTV footage shared by Windmill Hill Post Office near Herstmonceux appears to show a scrooge punching an inflatable Father Christmas at around 1am on December 25.
For the last two weeks, the post office and community shop have had decorations both in and outside the shop to ring in the festive season.
Shopkeeper Kevin Teeshan said: "All the village people liked our decorations.
"However on Christmas Eve, about one in the morning, someone hit the inflatable Santa."
The CCTV footage shows an individual running up to the decoration and appearing to tussle with it before leaving in a vehicle.
He said the owner of the shop recieved a call on Christmas morning by a customer who passed by.
"They rung and said 'your Santa outside has, like, fell over'" Kevin said.
The owner came over on Christmas day to discover a puncture near the bottom of the inflatable.
Kevin said: "It's just pointless, and not in the Christmas spirit. It's just a Santa, he doesn't hurt anyone."
He fears that next year there will not be any decorations outside the shop, over fears a similar incident could occur.
Sussex Police have been contacted for comment.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel