Residents slam 'shocking' Christmas tree planted in Greater Manchester

Council officials have promised to replace a 'shocking' Christmas tree erected in Hattersley which has infuriated residents.

The 'living tree' was planted outside The Hub, a community centre on Stockport Road which includes a police post and Tameside Council offices, a few years ago. But the threadbare spruce hasn't thrived.

Several boughs are missing and the ones that remain are pretty thin. The poor state of the tree has prompted severe criticism from residents when they noticed workmen had decorated it in lights and put barriers around it on Monday morning in time for Friday's lights 'switch-on'.

READ MORE: Andy Burnham tells Covid inquiry 'we just weren't listened to' as he says lockdown 'lifted too soon

READ MORE: Today's top Manchester Evening News stories

Now, following the festive furore, council officials have promised to provide a 'cut tree' in time for the switch on and replace the 'living tree'.

Jess Walker, 35, assistant manager of Mottram Wood pub on the other side of Stockport Road, couldn't believe her eyes when she saw the tree on Monday morning.

She told the M.E.N: "It's shocking. I run the pub opposite and we do lights and Santa grottos, everything. The only thing we don't do is a big Christmas tree because we don't have the staff to police something like that.

"I couldn't believe it when I saw it. It has a sign saying there's a big lights switch-on on December 1. Are they joking? What are they going to be switching on?"

The mother-of-two, whose mother Yvonne Myler is landlady of the Mottram Wood, and who lives in Hattersley, added: "I'm not bringing my children to the switch-on of a twig of a Christmas tree. Kids wants to see something that makes them think 'wow!' don't they? The kids on this