South Tyneside Council named North East's biggest spender on Christmas trees as chiefs 'committed to bringing festive cheer'

A freedom of information request revealed the authority spent £7,979.25 on trees in 2016, £8,592 last year, and £8,922 this year.

A spokesman for the authority pointed out that it buys 11 trees a year and vowed to carry on bringing Christmas cheer to the borough in the face of budget cuts.

The borough has four trees in South Shields and two in Boldon with Westoe.

Jarrow, East Boldon, Cleadon and Hebburn all have one tree each. The tallest tree in the authority area is 14 metres high.

A council spokesman said: “Despite the financial challenges we face, we remain committed to bringing festive cheer to the borough at Christmas time.

“Unlike other areas, South Tyneside has three distinct town centres as well as a number of villages which is why we buy 11 Christmas trees. The minor cost increases reflect inflation and the rising costs of transporting the trees.

“We believe these trees help to create a festive atmosphere for local residents while also helping to draw more visitors and business into the borough.”

Six councils across the region spent £17,437 between them last year, revealed by Freedom of Information Act requests submitted by the BBC’s Local Democracy Service.

Sunderland spent £8,795 last year. North Tyneside Council spent £4,448 this year. A decades-old friendship with the Norwegian city of Bergen means that Newcastle gets a massive tree for free.

For more than 70 years, Newcastle has received a gift of a Christmas tree from the people of Bergen, in Norway, to symbolise the city’s gratitude for Tyneside’s support and friendship during the Second World War.

And this year the tree was lit up during a special ceremony at the Civic Centre.

The Lord Mayor of Newcastle, Coun David Cook, invited the Mayor of Bergen Marte Mjos Persen, to switch on the lights.

At the time Coun Cook said: “Newcastle has always enjoyed a close relationship with the people of Norway, more importantly our friends in Bergen, so I’m delighted to receive this gift on behalf of the city.”

Other local authorities took a more frugal approach with Gateshead and Northumberland spending much less.

Northumberland County Council was one of the lowest spenders, coughing up a mere £50 per year since 2017.

The trees, which cost £25 each, are in the main reception and restaurant of the County Hall and are 2.1 metres high.

The Christmas tree outside of County Hall isn’t paid for by the council because its a donation.

“While we love Christmas as much as anyone we realise the cost of trees ultimately comes out of the public purse,” a spokesperson for the authority added.

“Many of the fantastic trees seen in town and village centres in Northumberland are paid for by the local town and parish councils.

“Our two, in the reception and restaurant areas of County Hall, cost a total of £50.”

Meanwhile, Gateshead Council buys three Christmas trees per year, with the tallest being just over four metres.

In 2016 this cost £236, in 2017 it was £380 and in 2018 it was £260.