Fir heaven’s sake! 43ft Christmas tree brought 1,180 miles by sea from Norway as a gift to the people of Grimsby dies and is taken down – to be replaced by joker’s 12in high effort
- Tree was delivered as part of a 15-year tradition between the town and Norway
- People began to complain that the tree was dying and demanded it be replaced
- Before it finally was, a local prankster intervened and put a mini replica in place
A 43-foot Christmas tree delivered from 1,180 miles Norway was taken down after locals complained about its crumbling state.
After the traditional gift was hauled down in the town of Grimsby a local prankster intervened, hilariously putting 12in high tree in its place.
Someone even added lights to it before the town council spruced the area up by replacing it with the latest in a string of three trees, ending a month-log debacle.
The dying tree drew the ire of locals when it began to die prematurely and branches fell off
The saga started with a 15-year tradition between the coastal town in north east Lincolnshire and a municipality in the far reaches of Norway.
Grimsby receives a gift from the people of Sortland, Norway every year in the form of a, usually, beautiful Norwegian spruce for their town centre.
The tree arrived at Grimsby port on November 9 like it has done for the last 15 years, with local representatives and the Norwegian ship captain exchanging pleasantries and posing for pictures.
After responding to complaints, Grimsby council removed the tree and a prankster replaced it
Over a month on from the delivery of the first tree, the town finally got one that will last to Christmas. It was erected by council workers yesterday and has since been decorated
Local media in Sortland even reported that their tree had been taken down and Grimsby representatives ‘will send mayor Tove Mette Bjørkmo a small gift of beer from the new local brewery Dock Beers’ as a thank you and sign of respect.
In the interim between the new tree replacing the gift from Sortland, a tiny version took centre stage in the town, surrounded by metal hoardings that dwarfed it.
North East Lincolnshire Council confirmed that the miniature tree was not erected on their behalf.
But soon after the 43-foot tree was erected on Victoria Street on November 22, locals began to complain that it was a crumbling eyesore and not a good representation of the town – despite the council saying it had received no complaints.
Many people quipped online that the dying tree put the ‘Grim’ in ‘Grimsby’ as it turned brown and crumbled.
The council soon caved and began a new search for a replacement after it cleared the Norwegian tree on Monday.
Grimsby Town Hall representatives including the mayor greet staff from Norwegian ship at the town’s docks after they delivered the tree that died an untimely death
Councillor Hazel Chase, the Mayor of North East Lincolnshire greets ship captain Tommy Jenssen
Local reporter Phillip Norton, who was at the scene, tweeted: ‘Somebody has even put lights on it tonight! One guy also bought a star at Wilkos and asking me to put it on for him earlier…which I did! A smile we all needed!’
Alex Wright said on the social media site: ‘Is the Christmas tree in Grimsby small or far away?’
‘It’s been replaced! Or the alternative theory, it grew spectacularly overnight,’ tweeted Katy Austen as the town finally seems to have a tree that will see them through to Christmas.