A US man has been forced to dress his naked Santa statue.

Barry McBee claims he was just trying to make local residents in Big Spring, Texas smile with the nude figure - a Renaissance stature wearing a Father Christmas hat and beard - which he erected outside his home in Big Spring, Texas.

However, after a neighbour complained to officials, Barry has had to cover him over with a pair of black and white faux-velvet shorts and a Christmas bow.

He explained: "I just like to shock people to make them laugh, kind of break the monotony around here."