A pensioner was "brought to tears" after mindless vandals ruined a festive postbox topper she helped to create.

Ann Waterman and the rest of her crochet group brought smiles to the faces of children and adults alike by knitting postbox toppers stationed outside Bitterne library.

But their latest design, featuring snowmen, Christmas trees, presents, Santa Claus and other festive designs, was left in tatters when some of the items were pulled from the knitted design.

The volunteers have been left heartbroken, and said they are now considering getting a camera to watch it.

What the postbox topper looked like before it was damagedWhat the postbox topper looked like before it was damaged (Image: Southampton City Libraries) It had been destroyed within three days of being placed outside the library.

80-year-old Ann, from Bitterne, told the Echo: “I was in tears – such a horrible feeling came over me. Why would someone do such a thing?

“It takes us so much time and skill and we just love seeing peoples faces light up when they walk past the library.

The knitted Father Christmas and sleigh were ripped from the topperThe knitted Father Christmas and sleigh were ripped from the topper (Image: NQ) “The two pieces that were snatched from the topper were a Father Christmas and sleigh that I had created myself.”

The group has around nine member and spend hours designing and creating stunning post box toppers for Christmas, Easter, D-day memorials and other events around the year.

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When coming up with designs, the crochet group work a year in advance and are already having discussions about their Christmas 2025 post box topper.

Ann said that despite how upset she is, she is determined not to let it ruin her Christmas.

She continued: “We had so many messages from people saying how upset they were that two pieces had been taken.

(Image: NQ) “I ask myself; how could they do this and spoil what we have made? It takes us a good two or three hours a day to knit these pieces.

“People will always stop and smile at all the pieces – we have done them for D-Day, the royal coronation and many other events.

“The staff even come running out the funeral directors next door to the library when we put them on the post box to see what we have made.

“We are considering getting a camera or some other measures to stop our toppers being ruined again.”