A GWENT couple raising money for charities with their Christmas lights display discovered thieves had stolen all the cash.

Anthony Davies, pictured, and his wife, Deanna, have festooned their home in Cefn Court, Pantside, with lights and decorations - and onlookers have been throwing cash into a pond in the garden to show their appreciation.

Mr and Mrs Davies were going to divide the money between an epilepsy charity and a children's charity.

But all the cash - thought to total around £30 - was stolen.

"The thief must have managed to climb over all the wires in our garden, and he must have had freezing hands taking all the money out of our pond," said Mr Davies. "My wife and children are very upset about it."

The couple are now putting buckets out for people to contribute, and bringing the offerings inside at night.

"I was tempted not to put the lights back on - but my wife said 'it's for the kids', and they all like to see them," Mr Davies said.

The incident is the latest in a string of theft and vandalism attacks directed at Valleys' lights displays.

Several homes in the Blackwood and Newbridge areas were targeted; lights were torn off a tree in Springfield, Pontllanfraith.

Martin Simmonds said he put the £45 lights up for his baby daughter, but does not now intend to replace them.