Christmas tree in Faversham only lit at top after years of vandalism
Faversham in Kent can only illuminate the top of the tree after several years of vandalism.
Tuesday 4 December 2018 15:01, UK
A town in Kent has been forced to only light the top half of its Christmas tree after repeated vandalism.
Organisers say lights on the lower segment of the tree in Faversham are usually broken or smashed by "louts and yobbos" who "like to pull them off and play football with them".
Two years ago, the town's Christmas lights committee struggled to fund the lights at all, after the local council was forced to stop buying the trees for any of its town centres.
And in 2014, the lights were damaged by vandalism, according to Kent Online.
Volunteer Steve Sherlock told Sky News: "There are 15 unpaid volunteers who are nothing to do with the council or any chamber of commerce, who, for the last 36 years, have raised money and given up their time and worked on the display.
"Having done that, we run the risk of these things being damaged or vandalised."
Another volunteer, writing on Facebook, said: "We would love nothing more than to cover the tree in lights but unfortunately some residents of Faversham cannot be trusted. In the past we have had the tree vandalised.
"Already this year (the lights have only been on for five nights) we have had one report of vandalism by some of your fellow residents.
"The purpose of the netting is to give a great light effect on the part of the tree that we can decorate, out of the reach of any potential vandals.
"In short, blame a small but effective number of Faversham residents for the lack of lights on the tree."
He added that it was not possible to install a fence around the tree because of passing traffic, and said CCTV did not seem to work as a deterrent.
A staff member at a nearby pub said the vandalism was a shame but added: "I'd rather there was a tree there than no tree, even half-lit."
Faversham's lights will be lit until 6 January.