CHRISTMAS spirit was lacking in Broadway last Saturday afternoon when two men tried to steal holly from a tree in Station Road.

Police believe that the men planned to use the holly to make festive wreaths to be sold, possibly on market stalls.

But their activities were halted when they were spotted by builders as they piled large branches into a white van nearby.

While the owner of the house called the police someone else took the registration number and two men were later arrested.

It is feared that the tree, which is the subject of a Tree Preservation Order (TPO) may have suffered irreparable damage.

TPOs are granted by the Department of the Environment to protect trees for conservation and aesthetic reasons, and they protect the tree by making it an offence to cut down, top, lop, uproot or wilfully damage it.

PC Diane Summerton said: "We believe that the men were trying to steal the holly to make Christmas wreaths.

"They were taking complete branches and unfortunately they have probably killed the tree because they cut right back to the trunk and we have had heavy frost since. We will just have to wait and see."

The men who were arrested are believed to be local and are now on police bail, pending further inquiries.

Villager Dottie Friedli said: "It just shows what you can do if you've got the police on the spot instead of miles away in Redditch or somewhere."

Wychavon District Council's tree officer was unavailable for comment.