PENSIONERS are warning others to watch over their prized Christmas decorations after two people attempted to steal their trees.

A retired husband and wife from Braintree, who do not wish to be named, were woken on Monday night by muffled voices.

The wife, who is 70, of Meadowside, was using the bathroom when she noticed the security light come on outside.

She then noticed two people trying to dig an expensive Nordic Pine tree, worth £200, out of the garden.

She said: "We just want to warn people as next time it could be someone's decorations that are stolen.

"People need to be vigilant, it's annoying as we spent an awful lot of time on the garden- we have spent nearly £3,000 on plants.

"We do a lot of gardening and it's frustrating to think someone can come along and help themselves.

"I shouted out the window and they legged it, but they could target somebody else."

It happened at about 3am on Monday, December 5.

Police were made aware of the incident.