Christmas tree damaged after lights switched on

Radstock was awash with colour on Saturday when carol singers gathered in the Miners' Memorial Garden for the switch on of the lights on the tree and miners' wheel.

But somehow the Christmas tree in the centre of Radstock got damaged, although mystery surrounds the circumstances.

It is not known if vandalism or high winds are to blame, although it is suspected that the tree was vandalised after a eucalyptus tree in Tom Huyton Park was also found damaged on Sunday morning.

Norton Radstock Town Council has now replaced the tree in the memorial garden.

Wendy Walker, a volunteer at Radstock Museum, said: "When the volunteers turned up and saw the tree we were shocked and appalled by the destruction.

"I just hope it does not put a dampener on Christmas spirit in the town or put people off coming to the museum's Christmas fair on Saturday."

To help get traders into the festive spirit the Somerset Guardian is again offering cash prizes for businesses who have the most popular window display in our annual Christmas window competition.

Shopkeepers must get creative to be in with a chance of winning £100 for the best-dressed window. A runner-up prize of £50 is also up for grabs.

The voting is in the hands of the public who can fill out the form, printed right, and return it to the reception of the Somerset Guardian office by noon on Monday.

Alternatively, completed forms can be posted to the Somerset Guardian, 78b High Street, Midsomer Norton, BA3 2DE.

The winners will be announced in next week's paper.

A number of retailers in Midsomer Norton, Radstock, Paulton and Peasedown St John are taking part. They include Paulton League of Friends Charity Shop, Kidz Kit, Out of Asia, Fred Bartlett, Rebecca's Flower Shop, Norton Sports and Camping, Past and Present Upholstery, K J Carpets, Bluebells, Casswells, Cottles, Docky's, The Entertainer, Norad Travel, Elite Stationers, Millier Ashman, Party Plus, Pets Corner, Rosecrafts, Automania, Reflections, Solitaire and Step in Time Dancewear.