Dalton children left pining after Christmas tree is stolen
Last updated at 14:20, Thursday, 06 December 2012
A FAMILY’S festive cheer has been dealt a severe blow after a grinch stole their Christmas tree.
Sarah Biggins, 34, and her two daughters Ella, six, and Rebecca, eight, were looking forward to decorating their tree as part of Dalton’s annual Christmas Tree Festival.
However, on the eve of the day their decorating was to begin, the 3ft spruce was stolen from their front garden in Market Street.
The family awoke on Saturday morning to find the tree had disappeared and discovered the pot it came in broken in a back street.
“There’s worse things in life than having a tree stolen, but it’s just the fact that it was stolen before the Christmas switch-on,” she said.
“We had got the lights and everything ready to decorate it with the girls.
“It is the first year we have done it. The girls were quite upset really.”
Mrs Biggins said the family last saw the tree, which was given to them by Dalton Town Council as part of the festival, at around 7pm on Friday night.
The family had not reported the theft to the police as Mrs Biggins thought it was unlikely they would be able to track down whoever is responsible.
Dalton Town Council gives the trees to residents in Ulverston Road, Market Street, Market Place and Skelgate.
Town clerk Fiona Thomson said this was not the first year Christmas trees had been stolen in Dalton.
She said: “It’s not very festive.
It’s really miserable isn’t it?
“You would think that people wouldn’t do that, but I suppose it is a sign of the times.”
St Mary’s Church in Dalton is hosting a display of Christmas trees every weekend until December 30 as part of the festival.
The event has become a popular addition to the town’s Christmas festivities.
Entry is £1 for adults and free for children under the age of 14.
First published at 12:08, Wednesday, 05 December 2012
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk
I understand Dalton Council and the church have replaced the tree Good partnership
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We did have our tree replaced by the council for which we were grateful, unfortunately it seems our trees are much sought after as this new tree has too been stolen, its just so sad that you cant have something nice for people to enjoy without being targeted,
Posted by Sarah Biggins on 11 December 2012 at 20:12