Christmas trees installed in Dudley and Upper Gornal are to be replaced after an outcry from the public.

Locals declared that the tree in Dudley Town Centre looked 'half dead' and recycled from the previous year. Local councillor Shaukat Ali was aghast when he saw the tree for himself after people starting posting on social media about its sorry looking appearance. 

Black Country Radio’s Dave Brownhill described it as “unbelievable” and Dudley Council have said the tree is in the process of being replaced. A second in Gornal was also due to be replaced following similar concerns. Councillor Shaz Saleem, cabinet member for highways and public realm, said:

"We were very disappointed with the quality of the tree delivered to us in Dudley town centre, shoppers and traders expect much better. We don’t see them before they are delivered and then we decorate them once they have been put in place.

"We have therefore been in touch with the supplier and they have agreed to replace it free of charge."