Vandals have pulled the plug on a village's festive display by chopping down its Christmas tree.

Sedgefield's Christmas tree, on the village green, was felled by young pranksters on Tuesday night for the second time in three years.

Two youths were seen crouching below the tree at about 9pm and a suspicious passer-by called police.

But by the time an officer reached the scene, the trunk had been cut through and the tree was left lying on the ground.

In 2002, three youths were captured on security cameras destroying a tree provided by Sedgefield Round Table and smashing the lights a few days after Christmas. The images were not clear enough to identify the culprits.

PC Keith Todd, beat officer for the village, said: "This is a really thoughtless act of vandalism.

"They probably think it is very funny but really it spoils things for the rest of the community at a time when we should take pride in our area. It would have been up until the New Year but now looks pretty sorry for itself.

"The tree is provided for the community by a local group which must feel very disheartened by it being constantly targeted. It may be the same people responsible for both incidents."

Witnesses can contact police on 0845 6060365 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.