Is the 'Brinnington Twig' the worst Christmas tree in Britain?

Angry residents in Stockport are calling for the council to take down and replace a Christmas tree they say is the 'worst in Britain'.

One resident said the 'disgusting' tree looks like it had been found 'on a tip'.

The 'year-round' tree was planted outside First House, in Brinnington, and decorated with lights.

Complaining residents have nicknamed the tree 'the Twig' because of it's sparse branches, some of which are completely bare of any greenery.

They are calling for the tree to be upgraded because it lets down the prominent location in which it has been planted.

Brian Jones, 71, said “The branches are all droopy and it is really scraggy. I’d say it is disgusting as though it has been found on a tip and someone decided to plant it there.

“It looks like a budgie without any feathers, I’d like to see a much better one there. Something that makes people say, ‘ooh, that’s nice’, when they walk or drive past.

“As it is, it just looks like because Brinnington isn’t a very well off area we get a run down tree. The one outside the shops is a cracker but this is more prominent and I’ve yet to see a worse one.”

The tree was first planted before last Christmas. Brian says it was not very good in 2014 but looks even worse this year.

“We all call it the Twig. It looks very poor at the moment and as though someone has just thrown on the lights but we are told it is supposed to bloom as it gets older," added Claire Alcock, 39.

“The tree in the middle is nice but no one can see it when they drive past, whereas they can see this one.”

The council said tree was planted with the idea it would take time to grow to be at its best, and that decorating it was a mistake by council contractors who had put lights on the wrong tree.

The lights were meant for the tree in the plaza, which will have its Christmas lights switched on later this week.

The lights have since been moved to the correct tree.