RISHTON is to get its third living Christmas tree.

Two trees were planted in the town last year in a bid to drive the cost of festivities down in the long-term.

It has now been decided that a third tree will be planted at the Turrets garden in time for Christmas.

Rishton councillor Ken Moss said: "We looked at planting on The Espanade but to be honest there is nowhere fully suitable as each flower bed is used to capacity and makes a nice display all year round.

"It would also have cost a small fortune to run electrical cabling that far from the main utilities loop so it was just a non-starter unfortunately.

"The Turrets was therefore decided on as the best place and now all three areas of Rishton will have a tree."

The two existing trees, in Parker Street and High Street, were branded 'a laughing stock' by residents who complained about their six-foot size.

They have both been targeted by vandals since being planted last November.

Two new sets of lights have had to be bought, and figurines for a crib need to be replaced.

And Coun Moss said the cost of Christmas in the town, in excess of £1,500, meant there was no money for trees over shops as in previous years.

He added: "It is a shame that the Christmas budget isn't as big as it was but we need to be practical about this. We were spending well over £2,000 every year for about a month's worth of decorations and that isn't sustainable."