A man in the US used a candy cane lawn ornament to fight off a knife-wielding neighbour who had been attacking holiday guests at a Sacramento home.

Police spokesman Sgt Norm Leong said the man used the two-foot-tall plastic ornament to subdue the attacker until officers arrived.

He said the 49-year-old suspect became intoxicated, went over to a neighbour's home on Thanksgiving and began waving a kitchen knife at people gathered on the lawn.

He cut several peoples' clothing before one of them decided to fight back.

Police said the man with the knife was arrested on suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon.

The guest who took up the candy cane was not arrested because police determined he acted in self-defence.

Belfast Telegraph