Accrington's 'sad' Christmas tree WAS replaced council admits

When the fir was put up in Accrington Town Square its brown and dying branches provoked residents to complain on Twitter and Facebook.

Spring Hill Labour councillor Kimberley Whitehead asked: “Is this Britain’s Saddest Christmas Tree?”

Other social media comments included 'limp', 'depressing,' 'half dead’ and 'a disgrace'.

Initially Hyndburn Council said: "Upon arrival this year’s tree for Accrington Town Square did require some pruning.'

But questioned further by the Lancashire Telegraph a spokeswoman for the authority has admitted the tree had actually been replaced.

The new, less limp tree being installed in Accrington town centre

Now the council is under fire for the state of the Christmas tree in Great Harwood.

The Hyndburn Council spokeswoman said: “All the trees for the borough arrived early on Saturday morning.

"The 13 trees arrive on the back of a large flatbed wagon with a winch on the back. They are stacked in a certain order that they are erected in.

"The first point always being Accrington town centre, outside the Town Hall.

"The trees are netted to protect them during transportation and erection.

"Once they have been winched into situ the netting is removed.

"It then normally takes a couple of days for the branches to fall back down to their natural positions

“It was apparent however as soon as the tree in Accrington was erected that it wasn’t up to standard and needed replacing.

"It wasn’t possible to put it back on to the back of the wagon due to the need to deliver the remaining trees.

"It was left in situ and the wagon then returned to their site in Bolton to collect a new tree. The replacement tree arrived and was put in place by 12.30pm.”

Overton ward Independent Cllr Patrick McGinley welcomed the replacement of the Accrington tree but added: "Our tree in Great Harwood is falling over."

Kimberley Whitehead said: "It’s anything but tree-mendous.

"It’s another shambles by the Conservative coalition.

"Our Labour councillors in Great Harwood have seen a lot of negative comments about how residents feel let down that the council don’t seem capable of putting a tree up straight.

"The council responded swiftly to the issue that I raised regarding Accrington’s Christmas tree but you would have thought that they would have learnt from the public backlash and got the other trees right.”

The council spokeswoman responded: "On Monday evening we were notified about the Christmas tree leaning in Great Harwood due to recent high winds.

"Lancashire County Council were informed. They made a site visit on Tuesday and have now rectified the tree.

"We thank residents for getting in touch and will always act as swiftly as possible.”