One famous carol reminds us there are ‘Twelve Days of Christmas’, but over in one Leeds town Christmas has stretched on for 130 days.
This is because their now dishevelled Christmas tree was left standing for over four months.
Residents in the town of Guiseley, near Leeds, were baffled why the 20ft Spruce in their market square was still standing just three weeks before Easter.
Locals have put Leeds City Council on Santa’s ‘naughty list’, after the tree, first erected on November 15, 2024, was hauled down on Monday.
That was 83 days into the New Year, leaving this Spruce as the UK’s ‘last Christmas Tree standing’.
Paul Alderson, 38, who lives near the square, said: ‘It’s not too much to ask for a Christmas tree to be removed by Easter.
‘I’m hoping that the council won’t do this again, because it had to be chased up last year too.
‘It was a great tree, but it has somewhat died back and browned now. You could forgive someone for thinking it had been forgotten.’
The former councillor for the area said he got in touch with the local authority after hearing a wave of complaints.
Paul said the not-so-green tree was financed by the Outer North West Community Committee, with the council billing £500 for installation and removal costs.
The tree was decorated by the Guiseley Lights team, which raises money to brighten the town each Christmas.
Paul continued: ‘The council has received the money, so they should fulfil the service.
‘It is disappointing and concerning that it has taken members of the public to complain for something to be done.
‘The tree has always been funded by community funds, made available to spend on our local area, so it’s no different to paying someone for a service upfront and them taking the money and not carrying out the work.’
However not all residents were bothered by the out-of-date tree.
One flower shop right opposite the square told Metro they had not even noticed the tree was up for so long.
A spokesperson for Leeds City Council said: ‘The council’s present contractual arrangements for Christmas trees is to use a single contractor for supply, installation, and removal.
‘It is not always possible to remove trees immediately after Christmas, but they are removed as promptly as possible and if required council staff may support from time to time in this process.
‘This particular tree has now been removed.’
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