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Christmas tree too big to put up Christmas tree too big to put up
(1 day later)
The lighting-up ceremony of a Christmas tree in Swindon has had to be postponed after the bigger-than-expected tree broke the base it was being mounted on. A lighting-up ceremony of a Christmas tree in Swindon has had to be postponed after the tree broke the base it was being mounted on.
Council officials had asked for a 40ft (12m) tree as the centrepiece for the town's "magic roundabout" but a 50ft tall (15m) tree was delivered instead. Council officials had asked for a 40ft (12m) tree as the centrepiece for the town's "magic roundabout", but a 50ft (15m) tree was delivered instead.
When contractors tried to lift it on to the specially-made plinth for Monday's switch-on the base fractured.When contractors tried to lift it on to the specially-made plinth for Monday's switch-on the base fractured.
It is believed the extra weight was to blame. The tree had to be taken away. A second attempt at putting the tree up is due to take place on Wednesday.
Council bosses are now looking to get a smaller tree and attempts will be made to put the tree up on Monday, subject to permission to close part of the roundabout complex. Councillor Roderick Bluh, Swindon Borough Council leader, said: "The height of the tree was not the problem when we tried to put up the tree on Sunday.
The magic roundabout in Swindon consists of one large roundabout containing five smaller ones. "Unfortunately the tree got caught on part of the concrete base, which caused the base to crack.
"It would therefore have been unsafe to continue.
"We have now modified the base design and hope that, with a bit of magic, the impressive tree decorated with 5,500 lights will be ready to be switched on by myself and representatives from V Cars on Thursday at 8pm."