The sorry-looking Christmas tree in Peterlee town centre is set to be replaced with a handsome 20ft Norway spruce grown in the heart of 5,000-acre Hamsterley Forest, near Bishop Auckland.

The current tree caused uproar among shoppers and was dubbed "the worst Christmas tree in Britain".

Is this the worst Christmas tree in Britain?
How the Mail reported the story

Shopping centre chiefs say they have even had messages from far afield as Egypt to comment on what was described as a "twig".

The new tree will be delivered in the next 24 hours by the Forestry Commission and will be put up straight away.

Alex MacLennan, the tourism and communities manager with the Forestry Commission, said: "We have been growing trees in Hamsterley for decades and we take a lot of pride in our Christmas trees.

"We acted in double quick time so that people in Peterlee can share in the festive spirit and enjoy a handsome specimen full of fragrance and forest freshness."

The tree will be transported free of charge and will be supplied at cost price. Castle Dene Shopping Centre manager Mike Weston said: "We'll get the tree up in 10 minutes when it arrives.

"We are thrilled to take up this offer. I've even been texted from as far afield as Egypt about the old tree, but it's now destined for recycling into mulch."

The shopping centre said it had no time to send the original tree back after its arrival last month coincided with the switch on of the town's Christmas lights by pop star Natasha Hamilton.