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Villagers' joy after tree replacement takes roots

Serena FarrowNorth East and Cumbria
News imageBBC A large green fur tree which is being used as a Christmas tree in a village. It has been freshly planted, with new earth around the base and an iron fencing surrounding it. There are terraced houses in the street behind it.BBC
The new Christmas tree is about 14ft (4.2 metres) high

A Christmas tree replacing one which was deliberately felled has been planted thanks to "unbelievable donations", a community group has said.

The previous tree had stood in Shotton Colliery, County Durham, for more than 10 years but was chopped down hours after its lights were switched on in December.

Dylan McNamara, 26, has denied cutting down the tree and is to go on trial charged with criminal damage on 15 May.

Shotton Residents Association chairman Steve Maitland said about £3,000 had been raised to buy a 14ft (4.2 metres) replacement after the village's "marvellous community spirit" and "fantastic" donations from afar.

The former tree, which was about 22ft (6.7metres) had been put up as a monument to the fallen soldiers of World War One.

At the time, PC David Allen, from Peterlee Neighbourhood Police Team, said its felling had caused "huge upset throughout the village".

News imageDurham Police The large Christmas tree at Shotton Colliery which has fallen on its side. It has lights on it. There is a square black fence which is meant to be surrounding it, but the tree is over it on one side. There are a row of terraced houses behind it, outside which a silver car is parked. To the left is a road with a row of shops. The sky is grey. Durham Police
The tree in Shotton Colliery was felled in December, shortly after its lights were switched on

Maitland said he had been "really moved" hearing responses from across Europe after the tree was cut down."

Its replacement from Holland cost £2,686.

He said there had been a "marvellous community spirit" with "unbelievable" numbers of donations.

"You've just got to dust yourself down, crack on and start again," he said.

Maitland said the old tree would be cut into pieces, made into plaques to be sold off.

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