GOLBORNE's 30-foot high Christmas tree is a symbol of community strength.

"It's almost a decade since Golborne last had a town centre Christmas Tree -- it was chopped down by vandals and, ever since, the morons have ruled the day," said local councillor Peter Franzen.

"Last Christmas the town was a picture of gloom and despair with fewer lights and decorations than ever.

Golborne now claims to have the biggest Christmas tree in Wigan Borough at 10 metres high and a further 50 trees and lights have been installed on town centre shops and the tree in front of Heath Street Methodist Church has been decked out with lights.

"We decided to reclaim the town for the community and not to pander to the lowest common denominator," said Cllr Franzen who with Community Action Group colleagues Councillors Peter Solinas and Kevin Williams backed the project with Brighter Borough Budgets funding.

"The tree is more than just a Christmas decoration it represents a symbolic and major step forward in the reclamation of Golborne by it's community and a variety of events have been arranged to take place during the Christmas period with the tree as the focal point."

Funding for the main tree was also provided by Wigan Council's Engineering Department, by a generous contribution from The Community Forum (Golborne and Lowton), and by contributions from local businesses JLJ Engineering, Unit Pallets and Asda.