ANGRY residents in a Hyndburn town have voted to axe their traditional Christmas tree -- because it attracts too many drunken teenagers.

Local people attending a meeting of Rishton Area Council took the decision to lose the traditional 25ft tree in favour of a new scheme, which will involve putting smaller Christmas trees on the sides of buildings, out of the way of troublemakers.

Residents were told there was some £10,000 to spend on a festive display for Rishton town centre, on top of the money normally allocated for a Christmas tree at the junction of High Street and Parker Street.

Councillors suggested two options, including one which would see a second large Christmas tree installed in the town centre, near to the library and health clinic, which is seen as the community focal point of the town.

The other, which involves working with traders on the main shopping street to persuade them to erect 5ft trees on brackets 18 feet up the side of their walls, was preferred by residents.

They then asked that the Christmas tree in Parker Street be removed.

Coun June Butler, who chaired the meeting, said: "Basically, the tree at Parker Street attracts drinkers and vandals and is not visible from the CCTV cameras, so it has become a nuisance for residents.

"We had thought a solution would have been to put a tree up in the town centre, but it seems that is not what was wanted either.

"So we have plumped for this scheme involving trees on the sides of buildings, which we now need to persuade the traders to participate in. I hope it can work."

A police spokesman said: "We are relieved in one respect that the tree will not be placed in Parker Street, because it is away from the CCTV cameras and has been a site for trouble in the past."

The traditional carol service, held at the switch-on of the lights, will be held near to Rishton Library at the start of December.

Traders participating in the scheme will only have to pay for the electricity to light up the trees.

The cost of the trees and installing their brackets is expected to be met by the area committee.