THE lights on Abbotswood’s Christmas tree in Yate have been vandalised and are now too unsafe to switch on.

The Christmas tree lights were severely damaged over the weekend of Saturday, December 6 and Sunday, December 7 and can no longer be switched on.

The vandalism comes after the Abbotswood Christmas event on Saturday, November 29 that attracted more than 300 people to celebrate the festivities in the town and see the lights being switched on.

The Christmas tree was lit up for the first time on the green in Abbotswood during the event.

The lights were switched on by the minister for energy and climate change Ed Davey, the chairman of Abbotswood Action Group Mary Wright and special guest Father Christmas to a crowd of visitors.

Miss Wright said: “We are all very upset after such a successful event in Abbotswood to find that the tree lights had been damaged this weekend so badly that they are now unsafe to keep switched on.

“If anyone has any information as to who would be so mean as to commit this kind of offence, please ring the police on 101 as soon as possible.

“The lights were donated so if anyone has any spare lights, Abbotswood Action Group would be delighted to receive them and get them switched on again.”

If you know anything about the vandalism to the tree, call the police on 101. To contact Abbotswood Action Group email: abbotswoodaction@gmail.com.