HEARTLESS thieves have plumbed new depths by stealing a Christmas tree from a Poole sheltered housing complex.

Elderly couple Dave and Mary Fricker decorate a tree at Sherrin Close, Oakdale, every year to help their grandchildren, great-grandchildren and elderly neighbours get into the Christmas spirit.

However, just a couple of days after putting the tree up outside their front door it was stolen.

Mary, 73, who first noticed the theft last Monday morning, said: “I felt sick when I realised what had happened. How could someone be so cruel as to steal a decorated Christmas tree?”

Mary and her 77-year-old husband Dave had even paid for a new stand and outdoor lights for their prized tree.

“The new lights, which were quite expensive were only put onto it on Saturday,” said Mary. “They took the tree fully decorated, they cut the wire going onto the house and took the lot.

“All the local kids and neighbours enjoy it. We’re among the youngest living here, some of our neighbours cannot put their own decorations up.

“We’ve got one old lady who just comes along and looks at it, but now it is not there any more. We just felt gutted when we realised it had gone, we could have cried.”

The couple have not contacted police about the theft, but neighbours have had a whip-round to finance another tree.

“But to be honest,” Mary said. “We don’t know if we’re going to put another one up yet, we’ll have to wait and see. To steal this from sheltered accommodation – well, it is hard to believe someone could be so mean.”