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Man to face trial over chopped Christmas tree

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 on Wednesday night, shortly after its lights were switched on

A man is set to go on trial accused of cutting down a village Christmas tree hours after its lights were switched on.

The tree had stood in Shotton Colliery, County Durham, for more than 10 years and had been put up as a monument to the fallen soldiers of World War One.

But last Wednesday the tree was felled and left on its side over the fence placed around it.

Dylan McNamara, 26, of Bruce Glazier Terrace, Shotton Colliery, pleaded not guilty to a charge of criminal damage when he appeared at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates' Court on Saturday. He has been released on bail ahead of a trial scheduled for 15 May 2026 at the same court.

A second man, aged 23, arrested in connection with the felling has been released under investigation, police said.

The tree has been lifted back into place so it can remain upright over Christmas.

Shotton Residents Association chairman Steve Maitland previously told Radio Tees that the next steps would be to set up a fundraising campaign to plant a new tree and "start again".

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