THE LIGHTS on Lerwick’s town centre Christmas tree will be changed this weekend after coming in for some criticism.

The 7.5-metre Norwegian tree was erected at the Market Cross at the weekend and it features loops of bright lights running vertically instead of being wrapped horizontally.

However, locals took to social media after its lights were turned on to call the tree a “godless eyesore” and the “worst Christmas tree in the country”.

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Living Lerwick, which oversaw the tree’s erection, confirmed on Wednesday that the lights will be changed on Sunday when traffic is quieter.

The organisation said that due to circumstances outwith its control, the tree was put up later than expected, which affected staff’s ability to decorate it properly in time for the turn-on.

Living Lerwick continued: “The main street Christmas lighting then failed in two locations at the last minute and those who were decorating the tree had to be diverted to fix them in time for the parade.”

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“Once that was sorted, we were in the position that we had to have something at the tree to switch on at the parade but had no time to do it the way we wanted to.

“The tree lights will be changed on Sunday as there will be less traffic and the contractors we use are available. Apologies to anyone who has been disappointed but we did the best we could under difficult circumstances.”

Local tattoo shop Aurora Ink meanwhile is raising money for the Lerwick Lifeboat, Cancer Research and the British Heart Foundation by creating personalised decorations which will be placed on the tree.

For £1, the Mounthooly St shop will laminate a picture no bigger than A4 in size and attach string for hanging, with customers then invited to attach the item to the Market Cross tree.