A Christmas tree which stood for over a decade has been chopped down, just hours after its lights were turned on.
The tree in Shotton Colliery, County Durham, was chopped down between 10pm and 11pm on Wednesday, according to Durham Constabulary.
The village’s tree is believed to have been cut down deliberately.
St. Saviour’s, parish church for the village, said on Facebook: “Late last night it was reported that Shotton Colliery’s Christmas Tree had been cut down. After all the People who gave there time and effort to raise funds to get a Tree for the village.
“This morning, a tree surgeon has looked at the damage and said it’s been done with a chainsaw.
“May the people who caused this be caught and punished by the authorities.”
Arthur Crawford, church warden for St. Saviour’s, told GB News that the community, local vicar, and parish councillors started celebrating around 5pm on Wednesday night, an annual tradition for the village.
He estimated that there were more than a hundred people in attendance.
The village’s tree is believed to have been cut down deliberately
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ARTHUR CRAWFORD/SUPPLIED
At around 5.45pm, people returned to the village hall for food and drinks and to conclude ceremonies.
He said: “About 10.45pm I saw messages coming through on the actual page saying that the tree had been cut down and I was actually shocked to see this
He added: “I thought, who in their right mind has cut this tree down?”
Mr Crawford said of the aftermath the following morning: “A postman was walking by and said ‘I used to work with trees’, and he took a look and he said it was cut down with a circular saw, the cutting’s too smooth.”
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The incident occurred just hours after the lights switched on
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ARTHUR CRAWFORD/SUPPLIED
The church warden told GB News the tree, which recently had light fittings changed and rewired, is also used as a memorial for soldiers lost in World War I and World War II, and is used for Remembrance Day wreath-laying ceremonies.
He added that no names have been put forward, but hopes the people responsible are willing to come forward.
Local residents’ reactions to the news included anger and sadness.
One comment said: “This is so sad, what is happening to this village?”
The tree is also used as a memorial for soldiers lost in World War I and World War II
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ARTHUR CRAWFORD/SUPPLIED
“Let’s hope they get caught, with all the cameras around, hopefully they’ll be on, spoiling it for everyone in the village, it’s disgusting”, said another comment.
Expressing sadness and pride in the tree, one resident said: “We felt so sad going past it this morning, It may just be a tree to others, but it’s Shottons tree it’s in the hearts of Shotton people.”
PC David Allan, from Peterlee Neighbourhood Police Team, said: “This was a disgusting act of mindless vandalism, which has caused huge upset throughout the village at a time when our community should be coming together.
“We are treating this incident extremely seriously, and we will deal with anyone responsible as robustly as the law allows.
“This behaviour has no place in our community. Someone knows something – please help us find who is responsible.”
Police are currently appealing for witnesses and those with doorbell or CCTV footage of anyone acting suspiciously at the time.
Anyone with any information is asked to contact PC 9778 Allan via email at [email protected], quoting crime reference number CRI00653425.