TOWNSFOLK awoke yesterday to find vandals had sawn down their Christmas tree in the night.

But the people of Saltburn had the last laugh when workmen simply erected it again, albeit six feet shorter.

Police were yesterday planning to inspect security camera footage in an attempt the catch the culprits, who have been branded as "sick" by a community leader.

The latest vandalism follows a similar attack in the neighbouring town of Loftus, where the Christmas tree lights were stolen and the tree damaged last weekend. Loftus community policeman, PC Eddie O'Hara, will interview four suspects in the coming days after making enquiries at a number of schools. Loftus Town Council, which paid most of the costs of the town's first Christmas decorations for more than 20 years, plans to hold a meeting to discuss whether to pay £1,000 to replace the lights.

Saltburn's tree, originally 25ft and paid for by Saltburn, Marske and New Marske Parish Council, was bought, erected and decorated in a £2,500 scheme to provide a tree for each of the council's communities.

Sue Preston, council clerk, said: "It is really quite frightening to think someone has planned ahead and gone out in the middle of the night with a saw. I understand somebody saw something suspicious at about 1am and police discovered the tree on the ground a short time later. We decided to salvage the existing tree because buying and erecting a new one would have cost nearly the same as putting up three new trees in Saltburn, Marske and New Marske."

Joan Guy, parish councillor for Saltburn, said: "A lot of vandalism is from very young people or people who are drunk, who you hope will either grow-up or sober-up.

"But this must have been premeditated, you certainly do not have people walking around with a handy saw in the middle of the night. They must be quite sick to have wanted to do this.

"A lot of people do get a lot of pleasure from knowing the whole community gets together to provide Christmas decorations, including myself. This is very sad."

Anyone with information is asked to call Saltburn police on (01287) 622016.