A petition has been launched to remove and replace a "really sad" Christmas tree in Doncaster.

The living tree, in the middle of Mexborough's Adwick Road roundabout, has been described as "droopy and saggy" by community group Spirit of Mexborough.

It was planted in 2022, funded by £1,050 of public money, but a local businessman has now offered to pay for a new 24ft (7.3m) fully lit tree to go in its place.

City of Doncaster Council argued that although some might not find the tree "aesthetically pleasing", it remained "healthy and remains capable of sustained growth".

Bev Chapman, who organised the petition, said: "To be honest, I wouldn't call it a tree. It's more of a twig.

"It's absolutely unbelievable. If you blink, you'll miss it."

She explained how other parts of the city had "absolutely fantastic trees" and questioned why Mexborough was different.

Concerns surrounding the state of the tree arose last year, but Chapman said they had been told its branches would recover when heavy lights were removed.

"It was all droopy and saggy, it looked really sad," she added.

"They took the lights off it in January and it hasn't worked."

Chapman has called on the council to allow them to remove the tree and offered for it to go elsewhere.

"The council have to do nothing. All they have to do is just give us permission," she said.

"They are actually saying that this tree is a living tree and there's nothing wrong with it. It might be living, but it's certainly not thriving, because it's a mess.

"The residents are up in arms over it."

Experts from the council assessed the tree as part of an arboricultural report, which determined it to be healthy.

"As a council, we are committed to only removing trees when it is absolutely necessary and if we were to relocate this one it is highly likely that it would not survive the move," a council spokesperson said.

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