Town’s ‘wonky’ Christmas tree has been compared to the Leaning Tower of Pisa

Residents of a town have compared their ‘wonky’ newly-erected Christmas tree to Pisa’s famously lop-sided monument. 

Standing at about 30ft tall, the tree, situated in Market Place at the heart of the town of March, in Cambridgeshire, stands at a distinct angle.

March resident Kimberly Williams, 50, told the BBC: ‘The Italians have got the leaning tower of Pisa – March has now got the leaning tree of Christmas.

‘It’s better than last year, but it’s a bit wonky isn’t it? It’s a bit on the lean.’

She went on to say: ‘I think we should be proud of it.’

Robert Moat, a 64-year-old fellow resident of March, told BBC Radio Cambridgeshire: ‘I’ve been here four years and the tree’s been wonky every year, but at least they make the effort to put something up.’

Others who commented on a post in a local Facebook group were a little less lean-ient in their criticism of the festive installation, with some suggesting the tree was an ‘embarrassment’ to the town.

One user, who described the angle of the tree’s trunk is ‘such a shame’, wrote it seemed to have been ‘plonked down without much care’, adding ‘the branches at the bottom need sorting out’.

In response to such comments, volunteers from the March Christmas Lights Committee, which was responsible for putting up and decorating the tree, wrote they ‘did not physically choose the tree… We ordered [it] in January/February’.

They added: ‘It’s down to the supplier/luck as to what overall size/condition of tree we receive in the end.

‘We will pass the feedback we received regarding the tree not being straight to the supplier in the hopes that next year’s tree is a better one.’

Sarah Lemmon, town clerk at March Town Council, came to the tree’s defence: ‘It is very disappointing that each year sees a small (but very vocal) minority surface, which seems hell-bent on spreading negativity, finding fault, levelling criticism, and generally trying to kill the spirit of Christmas.

‘Yes, it is a little wonky, [but] why not enjoy our ever-so-slightly-leaning tree and express some gratitude and festive cheer?’

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