Vandals have targeted a 30ft Christmas tree in Worthing town centre, cutting cables that power its festive lights and forcing costly repairs.
The tree, located in Montague Street, was unveiled at the beginning of December as part of the town’s holiday celebrations.
Just days after its installation, the vandals struck, severing the power cables and leaving the centrepiece in darkness.
A Worthing Borough Council spokesman confirmed: “Following an investigation, we have discovered that the lights on the town’s Christmas tree in Montague Street have failed following an act of vandalism.”
The 30ft tree in the town centre was targeted by vandals
Worthing Borough Council – Facebook
The tree, funded by Balcombe Estate with support from Hemiko, will require significant repairs before it can illuminate the town centre again.
“It appears that someone has sadly cut the cables leading to the tree, which was only installed and decorated a couple of weeks ago to bring some added festive cheer to our town centre,” the council spokesman added.
The lights and components remain in place, but repairs will be necessary before the tree can shine again.
Prior to the vandalism, the council’s events team had worked with Balfour Beatty contractors to decorate the tree.
CHRISTMAS IS CANCELLED:
The incident marks another setback for Worthing’s Christmas celebrations, as plans for a tree outside the Town Hall were scrapped for the second consecutive year due to financial challenges.
The Worthing incident comes amid a spate of similar Christmas decoration vandalism across Suffolk villages earlier this month.
Between December 5 and 6, at least a dozen incidents of criminal damage were reported across five villages, including Great Finborough, Onehouse, Stanningfield and Battisford.
CCTV footage captured a balaclava-wearing man in a North Face jacket cutting display lights at a home in Combs.
The tree is located in Montague Street, Worthing
Google Street View
In Stanningfield, vandals cut 12 sets of lights, including those on the village Christmas tree.
One particularly mean-spirited attack in Onehouse saw an inflatable Father Christmas punctured and Christmas light cables cut between 8.20pm and 8.30pm on December 5.
Suffolk police are investigating the incidents but have made no arrests so far.
PC Simon Lant said: “Why someone decided to carry out this period of mindless vandalism is not clear but it has brought hurt, as well as a financial cost, to many residents in the area, depriving those living and visiting in these areas of the colour and joy that these lights bring to people, young and old.”
Police are urging residents with CCTV or doorbell cameras in the affected areas to review their footage.
Anyone with information about the Suffolk incidents is asked to contact Suffolk police by calling 101 or emailing cccidentifysuffolk.police.uk.
