Visitors to Feilding's Manchester Square discovered Santa supposedly headless.

But it turns out he may just have had a screw loose.

A photo of the apparently decapitated Santa had 136 'likes' and 47 comments on Facebook's Feilding Bargains page by 5.20pm on Wednesday.

Comments included:

"Most people get legless, not headless."

"Aw stink, I remember last year the rope was around his neck and a young one I was with asked 'why are they hanging Santa?'"

"Told ya he was over it!"

"This is sad as children get quite upset seeing Santa with no head."

"Christmas decorations and lights are always put up a month early and taken down a month late. Santa's had enough."

"At least he wasn't topless!"

Feilding Promotion installs and maintains the town's Christmas decorations.

Manager Helen Worboys, upon hearing the news of Santa's apparent cranial detachment, said it was the first Christmas that this particular Santa was used, having been donated by a local business to replace the old, worn-out one.

She then suggested the head had in fact just tipped backwards.

Upon further investigation by Manawatu Standard photographer Murray Wilson, it was found Santa's noggin had in fact done just that, and was positioned in such a way it looked to passing eyes as though Santa was headless.

Worboys said Feilding Promotion knew Santa's head may have had a screw loose, but despite best pinning efforts, the prop still needed attention.

Street light contractors would take the ornaments down next time they were due around, Worboys said.

Traditionally, festive adornments should be packed away on the twelfth night of Christmas, which falls on January 5. According to folklore, removing them a day sooner or later brings bad luck.

If trimmings remain intact after January 6, superstition points to then leaving them up all year.

However, 19th century life saw people leave their embellishments up until Candlemas Day on February 2.