LEIGH has a Christmas tree to be proud of - at last!

And it's all thanks to The Journal and Bents Garden Centre at Glazebury.

The town's third Christmas tree in as many weeks - a 25ft Norway Spruce worth £250 - was erected on Wednesday.

And Leigh Business Partnership boss Gordon Jackson's response to the happy ending for a sorry saga: "It's really tree-mendous. Thank-you Bents and The Journal!"

The story of the Civic Square showpiece tree has rumbled on for the first 16 days of December.

And Leigh Business Partnership - responsible for the tree, The Journal office and Wigan Council have been inundated with calls and criticism about the festive offering.

The first Tree of Christmas Past was a 15ft 'privet-sized' sparce spruce. It was quickly replaced after Mr Jackson said: "We realised too late that the tree was far too small."

The second Tree of Christmas Present was 'planted' in time for the successful Carol Service last week, but was the butt of many a Christmas wit.

"It looks like an anorexic cross between Twiggy and a lavatory brush and bends under the weight of the light bulb," said one caustic caroller.

Mr Jackson said this tree was selected after a 100-mile round trip of the NW on a tree-hunt.

"The only one we could find that was really suitable was at Dalamere. They wanted £200 and we had to shift it. We couldn't afford the cost.

"This tree came from the tree bank at Higher Folds."

But the third Tree of Christmas Future will finally silence the critics.

The Journal and Bents have now combined to give the town a glorious Christmas.

"We are happy to replace the tree. Leigh deserves a good tree and now they have it," said Michael Seddon, garden centre manager at Bents.

The tree, a 25ft Norway spruce has been growing at Bents' 60-acre nursery for close on 20 years.

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