Two men have been arrested after a Christmas tree serving as a First World War memorial was cut down in Shotton Colliery, County Durham, just hours after its lights were switched on for the festive season. A 26-year-old man has been remanded into custody and charged with criminal damage, while a 23-year-old man was released under investigation.
The tree was felled between 10pm and 11pm on Wednesday, hours after the village's Christmas lights were activated. The Christmas tree had stood in the community for more than 10 years as a memorial dedicated to First World War soldiers.
Community Response
Steve Maitland, chairman of the Shotton Residents Association, condemned the act as «mindless vandalism» in comments to BBC Radio Tees. He told the BBC: «These people who did this – I don't think they understand the history and the feeling of these things.»
The community has mobilized to restore the memorial. Residents are creating a sleeve for the tree's base to bolt it back up «just to tide us over for Christmas», Maitland said. He noted that some individuals who helped fundraise for the tree's original installation a decade ago have since passed away.
Police Statement
Pc David Allan from the Peterlee Neighbourhood Police Team issued a strong condemnation. «This was a disgusting act of mindless vandalism, which has caused huge upset throughout the village at a time when our community should be coming together,» he said in an official statement.
He added: «We are treating this incident extremely seriously, and we will deal with anyone responsible as robustly as the law allows.» Allan emphasized: «This behaviour has no place in our community.»
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
