Men arrested after village Christmas tree cut down

Two men have been arrested after a Christmas tree which has stood in a village for more than 10 years was "deliberately" cut down.

The tree, in Shotton Colliery, County Durham, was felled just hours after its Christmas lights had been switched on on Wednesday.

Two men were arrested after an appeal by Peterlee Neighbourhood Police Team.

Police said officers were in the process of charging and remanding a 26-year-old man with criminal damage, while a 23-year-old man has been released under investigation.

On Friday, Shotton Residents Association chairman Steve Maitland said the tree had been put up as a monument to the fallen soldiers of World War One.

He told BBC Radio Tees that members of the public were making a sleeve for the tree's base, so they could bolt it back up as quickly as possible, "just to tide us over for Christmas".