The doorbells will not be ringing out this Christmas.

Carol singers are turning nasty when residents are not responding to their crooning.

Mean-spirited groups of youngsters have been stealing doorbells when occupants have not acknowledged their efforts.

The majority of incidents have occurred in the Constable Avenue and Peter Bruff areas of Clacton.

An 11-year-old was caught with a handful of doorbells after police investigating a report of youngsters knocking on doors and running away.

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