A MOTHER has said she is 'absolutely devastated' as a postbox topper that took more than 100 hours to make has been stolen from Andover.

Resident Hannah Hughes dedicates her free time to crafting postbox toppers to celebrate holidays and events, including Valentine's Day, Halloween, Christmas and more.

The 47-year-old, who intricately crochets each topper, spent hours handcrafting one in the theme of the 12 Days of Christmas, featuring a pear, dove, swan, ladies, milkmaid, ring, Christmas tree, and more.

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(Image: Hannah Hughes)

However, Hannah says she has been left 'devastated' as the topper was stolen from outside of the Andover Delivery Office, on Bridge Street, between the morning of Tuesday, November 26 and Wednesday, November 27.

Appealing for information on the topper's whereabouts, Hannah said: "Hours of hard work and money were put into making the topper for everyone to enjoy."

She explained that the topper hadn't been on the postbox for a week before it was stolen.

It's not Hannah's first time her postbox toppers have been taken, as individual parts of her 2023 Christmas topper 'cut-off'.

The mum of five, who works full time, previously told the Advertiser: "It’s a hobby, it’s something to do. It brightens up people’s days, people enjoy them. It’s a nice thing to have in the community."

She added that she learned to crochet as a child, picking the craft back up again when she became a grandmother to make blankets for her relatives.

Hannah concluded: "The whole thing just vanished, if whoever is responsible could return it so that more of the community could enjoy it, that would be greatly appreciated."