The robbers targeted Speldhurst Road, in Southborough, Kent, the night after Bob Hook and his family had switched them on.

The lights are an annual feature in the area, and those stolen included a series of electric displays worth �500.

Mr Hook said the theft was difficult to understand, and had left a "bad taste".

He said he would still keep the remainder of the lights turned on, even though the display now lacked a sizeable piece of the magic.

"Every year we expect to lose a few bulbs through children's pranks and that is accepted, but I don't think this was children.

"I find it sad that it seems to be indicative of society that somebody can steal Christmas lights," Mr Hook said.