THE most unlikely police search of the year is on in Warrington, for an eight-foot inflatable Santa Claus, stolen right under the nose of the law.

Father Christmas may vanish before children can see him on Christmas morning, but his disappearing act arrived a little early for two pubs in Warrington. Both the Mulberry Tree Hotel, on Grappenhall Road, Stockton Heath, and The Plough, on Mill Lane, Houghton Green, fell victim to the secret Santa-snatcher last week.

However, unlike the real St Nicholas, it won't be the jingling bells that give away his arrival. Instead this Santa Claus stands eight-foot tall, inflates and illuminates.

Mulberry Tree landlord Phil Goodall could not believe his eyes when he woke to find a hanging basket broken beneath his balcony.

Amazingly, the thief had crawled up a drainpipe, unplugged the electrical Santa and escaped in the dead of night - right next to the village's police station.

"I couldn't believe it," commented a startled Mr Goodall. "The police asked me for a description and I told them, he's eight foot tall, with a beard, a red suit, and black boots.

"I didn't know they meant the thief."

Over at The Plough, Frosty the Snowman left the pub legless, as his kidnappers unhooked his base.

Both Frosty and Santa have been sadly missed as the centrepieces of both pubs' seasonal displays, attracting attention across Stockton Heath.

Village shop All That Jazz has donated a new Father Christmas to the Mulberry Tree with Homebase giving a new Frosty to The Plough, but the search is still on.

So this is one Santa you can stay up late to find, with both pubs offering a Christmas meal for two in exchange for his safe return ho, ho, home.