A Burton family have paid their final respects to a snowman deliberately destroyed by vandals - with a wooden cross.

The RIP memento has replaced the snowman which had been lovingly created by a family at their home in Burton and adorned with Christmas lights, before being finished off with a festive scarf and hat.

The snowman was completed with Christmas lights

He even had a carrot nose, as well as wooden arms, gloves and his very own broom.

Following the heavy snowfall in the area, the family spent hours putting together their snowy creation, only to discover the snowman had suffered a frosty reception from unwanted interlopers the next day.

The family woke up to scenes of carnage

The family believe he was deliberately knocked down by some sort of wheeled vehicle sometime between 11pm on Sunday, December 10, and 3am on Monday, December 11.