THIEVES ruined Christmas morning for a shop assistant after they stole a £1,259 designer sheepskin jacket.

The burglars used a rock stuffed into a baseball cap to break into the shop before pulling the luxury jacket out through the gap.

Mother-of-two Penny Mannerings, a shop assistant at the Paul Costelloe designer shop, in the High Street, Old Amersham, was called out at 3.20 on Christmas morning.

She said: "I couldn't believe it happened on Christmas morning but luckily I woke up my eldest child to explain what was happening.

"When I got to the shop the window had been smashed and a mannequin in the window was left naked after the thieves pulled the jacket off."

Gina Carr, manager of the shop, said that they would have faced a bill of around £500 to get the window fixed on Christmas Day.

She added: "My colleague's husband came out and boarded up the window fortunately but it could have ended up costing even more money.

"It is worrying because we have never had this before and it is annoying for anyone to have to go out to something like that at Christmas."

Sergeant Julian Heard, from Amersham Police Station, said: "This is a horrible incident to have to be called out to on Christmas morning and we would urge anyone who saw the burglary take place to call the police."

If you have any information call Amersham police on (01494) 465888