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A member of staff who works at Tesco and dressed as Father Christmas was assaulted by a shoplifter this afternoon.

Merseyside Police confirmed they attended the Tesco Deysbroook Barracks Superstore on Deysbrook Lane in West Derby at around 2pm today.

The force said they received a call to attend an incident which involved two shoplifters at the store,.

One of the offenders assaulted a member of staff and a member of staff at the Tesco confirmed it was someone dressed as Santa.

A man who contacted the ECHO said a man was shouting at the Father Christmas and "attacked him".

Speaking to the ECHO he said: "At around 2pm a man was shouting at Father Christmas who was at the grotto.

"He attacked him and they locked the store and they were rolling around the Tesco."

A Force Incident Manager for Merseyside Police confirmed that one man has been arrested for theft.

The spokesman said: "Police received a call around 2pm to the Tesco on Deysbrook Lane.

"The incident involved two shoplifters and one of the shoplifters assaulted a member of staff.

"One male has been arrested for theft."

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