Six-year-old Lewis Tupper's sensory Christmas lights at his home in Southampton were wrecked by vandals

But vandals cruelly hacked down rope Christmas lights at six-year-old Lewis Tupper’s home and even removed lights from his wheelchair ramp.

Mum Trish, 36, said they raised money to pay for the sensory lights, which cost around £100, because Lewis responds particularly well to them.

The full-time carer, of Botley Road, said: “Lewis spent Christmas in hospital last year so this year it was really important for us to have a proper Christmas and make sure he really enjoys it.

“It’s not how much they cost that’s the problem, it’s that Lewis loves lights. He smiles when he sees them and they are really special for him.

She added: “We raised the money to get him special sensory equipment. Lewis doesn’t quite understand what’s going on but his eight-year-old brother Adam is gutted.

“We have a long driveway so these people had to come all the way down to get to the lights. They would have to hack through the rope lights from our fir tree, which is around 8-to-10ft, and unravel them from the ramp. It’s just horrible and makes you wonder where the spirit of Christmas has gone.”

The lights before they were vandalised

Trish said the family has contacted police but are not confident the culprits will be caught.

Now they are appealing for any witnesses to come forward and contact police to ensure the vandals are brought to justice.

Trish, married to 37-year-old software designer Paul, said the family were considering putting more lights up but are worried they could be the victims of another attack.

She said: “It would be nice to get them back up for Lewis and we were intending to put even more lights up but after this we are not so sure.”

Over the past five years the family has raised around £5,000 to support Lewis’ treatment.