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Vandals Force Xmas Tree Move

VANDALS have forced Stranraer's Christmas tree to be moved - only a week after it was put up.

Officials at the Commercial Services Group decided to shift the tree on Tuesday after several incidents where lights had been torn off and broken.

Now it has been moved just a matter of yards - from the rear of the Castle Green to the original spot which is covered by CCTV provision.

A "grabbing" machine was brought in from Girvan to move the 15ft tree on Tuesday afternoon. Services Manager (West) Bob Maxwell said:

"The tree wasn't even up 10 minutes when someone ripped all the lights off and smashed some of the bulbs before we could even get the herras fencing up.

"It was there last year and several thousand pounds worth of damage was caused to lights and fittings.

"So we have moved it back to the original position, the main difference being that the CCTV cameras cover that area.

"But you have to ask what is the point in people doing this? What do they gain from it?"

The tree, along with the rest of the Christmas decorations were officially "switched on" by Snow Queen Lauren Cairnie last Saturday.