MEAN-SPIRITED vandals in Stourport have scarred the town's efforts to get festive by attacking its Christmas tree.

The top five feet of the tree, in the Villeneuve-le-Roi memorial garden, was chopped off and a section of lights sponsored by a local business stolen late on Friday night.

"This tree gave a lot of pleasure to a lot of people," said town mayor Michael Grinnall. "The lights will be no good to anyone because they run off 24 volts and there may not be enough time put up replacement."

He added: "This was a crime, not just an act of vandalism, because the town's property was damaged."

He appealed for any witnesses to contact the police on 01562 820888.