CHRISTMAS celebrations have been temporarily put on hold in Cullompton after the town Christmas tree was taken down just a day after being put up.

Cullompton Town Council acted quickly on Wednesday to remove the ‘dead’ and ‘tatty’ tree that had originally been delivered the day before – and plans to have a tree on show ‘very soon.’ The original tree cut a lifeless and disconsolate figure in the town centre on Tuesday, with many of its branches brown and withered and some even taped together with black gaffer tape.

Jerry Burdett, who lives in Cullompton, says he couldn’t believe his eyes when he first saw the lifeless tree being installed.

He said: “It’s dead, it looks awful – I honestly couldn’t believe it.

“Half the branches are dead and some were covered in black tape. It looks like someone has thrown it out or as if they had just picked it up from the side of the road.”

But Nick Randall of Cullompton Town Council, explained the situation.

He said: “We took delivery of the tree yesterday and when it came it was not the one we had picked out.

“It was taken down today (Wednesday) and we are looking to replace it – we should have a new one very soon.

“It will be up in time for the Christmas light parade on December 7 – the town should have a nice tree for what should be a nice event.”