THIEVES have targeted a winter wonderland of illuminated snowmen, Santas and reindeer, created in the garden of a brain-damaged York teenager.

Grandmother Myra Cook said her husband, Mick, had spent weeks setting up the Christmas decorations in the garden of their home in Main Street, Bishopthorpe.

"There are lights all the way up the path - we just hope an aeroplane looking for Leeds/Bradford Airport doesn't think it's a runway!" she said.

Toni Wilson, her 16-year-old granddaughter, who was brain-damaged in a road accident as a baby, had been delighted by the display. "She loves bright lights and colours," said Myra.

But then a thief - possibly someone walking home from the pub one night - spoilt the decorations by coming into the garden and stealing the illuminated snowman. He also attempted to take a reindeer, while a Santa and sleigh may have been saved from theft because they were chained up.

"We couldn't believe it. It's really annoying.

"I just think they may not have realised it was for this child," said Myra.

She appealed for whoever stole the snowman to return it, and asked people to leave the other items alone.

Updated: 11:46 Friday, December 28, 2001