A family has vowed to carry on putting up its spectacular Christmas display - despite an attack by vandals.

Alan and Susan Sowden have spent the last four years challenging a neighbour in Falcon Close, Otley to the best outdoor festive show.

This year the couple, along with their three grown up sons, spent 12 hours fixing their lights in place and installing Santa and his sleigh, complete with reindeer, to the roof of the house.

Dozens of people praised the display and even posted Christmas cards through the Sowden's letter box thanking them for their efforts, but shortly after Christmas, vandals struck and ran off with two of the snowmen.

Mr Sowden, a self employed heating engineer, said the family would not be put off.

"It was not the cost that bothered us so much as the lost pleasure to others and the fact that they were a present from one of our sons, we just hope that the culprits enjoyed their act, then all our efforts would not have been in vain.

"We shall certainly be doing it again next year. Even if we wanted to stop, we couldn't. People have got so used to it they're asking me in September what we plan to do this Christmas," said Mr Sowden.

The Sowden's first entered into battle with neighbour Bill Waite four years ago after presenting their new neighbour with a festive Santa.

"It started off as a bit of a joke and has now got quite out of hand. I'd actually prefer not to do it, it's a lot of hard work and every year I have the problem of trying to find somewhere to store everything, but people just expect us to do it now," said Mr Sowden.

Every year, the Sowdens and the Waites put up their displays on the same day, but keep them a close secret until they are finished.

The Sowden's three sons, Christopher, Matthew and Philip, are summoned to come back home for the day.

"We agree when we are going to do it and spend the day wandering back and forth looking at what each other is doing. This year, we'd planned to put the Santa and eight feet sleigh in the front garden, but then my eldest son said he thought we could put them on the roof."

Mr Sowden added: "Otley seemed to lose its way with the lights this year. People have asked me if I am going to sit on the council now."