Men arrested after village Christmas tree cut down

Two men have been arrested after a Christmas tree which has stood in a village for more than 10 years was cut down, hours after its lights were switched on.

The tree, in Shotton Colliery, County Durham, was felled at some point between 22:00 and 23:00 GMT on Wednesday.

Both men, aged in their 20s, were arrested after an appeal by Peterlee Neighbourhood Police Team.

Shotton Residents Association chairman Steve Maitland said he was “devastated”, adding that the green spruce had been put up about 11 years ago in memory of locals who served in World War One.

Police said officers were in the process of charging and remanding a 26-year-old man with criminal damage, while a 23-year-old man has been released under investigation.

Mr Maitland told BBC Look North: “I thought it was a hoax initially but when I couldn’t see the tree I was absolutely gutted.”

He said a sleeve has been wrapped around its base, so it could be bolted back up as quickly as possible “just to tide us over for Christmas”.

Describing the community response as “tremendous”, he said people were offering to raise money for a new tree.

“These people who did this – I don’t think they understand the history and the feeling of these things,” he said.

Some of those involved in fundraising for the original tree a decade ago had since died, he said.

Mr Maitland called the attack “mindless vandalism” but said he could not “turn the clock back”.

“It’s been horrendous – it’s touched every person in the village,” he said.

He added that “hopefully by spring” a new tree could be planted.

Durham County Council’s Reform UK leader Andrew Husband, writing on social media, described those responsible as “scumbags”.

“Disgraceful and not fair on the locals in Shotton,” he said.