BBCResidents have been left scratching their heads over the size of their new village Christmas tree.
The 6ft (1.82m) Christmas tree in Aspull, Wigan, was planted by ward councillor Chris Ready earlier this year.
However, some residents are feeling a little underwhelmed with this year’s offering – having once enjoyed a 50ft (15.24m) tree.
Councillor Chris Ready said that while he “can’t deny” the new tree is small, “small is beautiful sometimes”.
The new tree stands in the shadow of its predecessor, making the height difference between the pair more obvious.
“It is a little one, teeny-tiny, it does seem a bit small doesn’t it?” local resident Joanne McLennon, 63, told Radio Manchester.
“I was expecting the bigger tree at the back to have been decorated but it looks like the smaller one’s been done,” she said.
Mr Ready, Labour councillor for Aspull, New Springs and Whelley, has recognised the discourse and said: “Some people have said we are trying our best and other people have said it’s too small.
“Someone told me we should do the council light-up at their house because their own Christmas tree is bigger.”
Another Aspull local, Caroline Maitland, 59, said: “It’s a bit on the small side, I’m sure it used to be bigger.”
But aside from the jokes, Mr Ready wants people to realise that “there’s more to it than just a little tree”.
He said the new tree is an investment and will not be tiny forever.
“We went to people about the environment, so rather than getting a tree every year that gets thrown away, we wanted to plant them for the environment so they’re there forever,” he said.
“Last year we planted a bigger tree and it died – the experts told us the only way we were going to be able to do it was to plant a smaller tree which will grow in time – a couple of foot a year we’ve been told.”
Mr Ready said the trees the council had planted before in other wards had “come on leaps and bounds.”
Ms McLennon added: “We should be grateful though that we have got a tree at all really – some people haven’t.”
