Two men arrested after Christmas tree in Durham village chopped down | UK news
Two men have been arrested in connection with a “disgusting, mindless act of vandalism” after a Christmas tree that had stood in a village for more than 10 years was cut down.
On Wednesday, the tree at Shotton Colliery in County Durham was cut down between 10pm and 11pm, just hours after the Christmas lights were switched on.
A 26-year-old man has been detained and is in the process of being charged with criminal damage, Peterlee neighborhood policing team said on Friday. The second person, 23 years old, was released under investigation.
Shotton Residents’ Association chairman Steve Maitland told BBC Radio Tees on Friday that the tree was planted in memory of soldiers who died in the First World War.
“The Christmas tree lights went up around 5 p.m. and 80 to 100 people came to watch. Hours later, it happened,” he said. “Whoever did this thinks they can get away with it, but I hope they get caught.”
“I don’t think these people who are doing this understand the history and the feel of these things,” he said, adding that some people who participated in fundraising for the tree a decade ago have since died.
He described the attack as “mindless vandalism” but said he “can’t turn back the clock” and said members of the public had made a cover for the base of the tree so they could rush up as quickly as possible “to get us ready for Christmas”.
Saint Saviour’s, a church in the village, posted on Facebook: “After all the people who put in the time and effort to raise money to buy a tree for the village. This morning a tree surgeon looked at the damage and said it was done with a chainsaw. The people who caused this should be caught and punished by the authorities.”
PC David Allan, of Peterlee ward policing team, said: “This was a disgusting, mindless act of vandalism that has caused great upset in the village at a time when our community should be coming together.
“We take this incident extremely seriously and will deal with anyone responsible as harshly as the law allows. This behavior has no place in our society.”
The pair were arrested after police asked the public for any witnesses to the incident or anyone with CCTV or doorbell footage of anyone acting suspiciously in the area at the time to contact police.
