A community has been left devastated after its Christmas tree , which has stood for more than a decade, was cut down just hours after its festive lights were switched on. The tree in Shotton Colliery, County Durham , was felled between 10pm and 11pm on Wednesday (December 10) and has caused "huge upset", according to Durham Police .

The force believes it was felled deliberately and has appealed for witnesses to come forward. Locals have rushed to put the tree back up as quickly as possible, with Shotton Residents Association chairman Steve Maitland telling BBC Radio Tees that members of the public were making a sleeve for the tree's base so that they could bolt it back up "just to tide us over for Christmas". Mr Maitland said the tree had been erected as a monument to the fallen

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