Residents blast slim 'Temu tree' in town

A NEWLY erected Christmas tree in the heart of a Denbighshire seaside town has been getting some withering looks.

- By ANDREW FORGRAVE Countryside and Tourism Editor

Angry residents have been horrified by its slimmed-down look and are demanding it be returned for a refund.

The 16ft Norwegian spruce quickly attracted attention after being installed in Rhyl’s High Street this week.

Online, comparisons were made with last year’s effort, which was the same height but - in true Santa tradition - was much plumper.

“That's a twig,” fumed one woman on seeing this year’s effort. “Where's the rest of the Xmas tree?” wondered another.

“Even the tree has been on the fat jabs this year” sighed a resident.

The forlorn tree was labelled “disgusting” and “absolutely appalling”

One man labelled ita “Temu tree” in reference to the cut-price online retailer.

A woman added: “Seen dogs dragging bigger branches than that”

The disparaging comments kept coming. “Surely a few more hundred pounds could have been spent on a tree with more than five branches?” said a local.

Another quipped: “So that’s where the neighbour's conifer went...”

The British Christmas Tree Growers Association (BCTGA) has warned that trees may be shorter and more “gappy’” this year following two poor growing seasons.

Its chairman told the BBC that soggy weather in 2024 had damaged roots and stunted the growth of spruces and Nordmann firs.

This year's drought conditions had further affected growth, leaving shorter tops and gaps between branches.

Rhyl Town Council said “things don’t always grow perfectly,” adding that each year they are “somewhat at the hands of nature in terms of what grows, how and when’