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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| City Christmas tree chopped down | City Christmas tree chopped down |
| (about 3 hours later) | |
| A Christmas tree which was put up in Leeds city centre two weeks ago has been felled amid safety fears about a demonstration planned for the weekend. | |
| The tree, which cost taxpayers £2,000, went up in City Square on 18 October. | |
| However, the council and police agreed it could pose a risk to the public during a planned march by the English Defence League on Saturday. | |
| Surprised commuters looked on as workmen used a chainsaw to cut down the 30ft tree early on Thursday morning. | Surprised commuters looked on as workmen used a chainsaw to cut down the 30ft tree early on Thursday morning. |
| A Leeds City Council spokesman said the tree would be used elsewhere and a new one would be put up in the square before Christmas. | A Leeds City Council spokesman said the tree would be used elsewhere and a new one would be put up in the square before Christmas. |
| "We have agreed with the police to remove the tree due to an event taking place on the site at the weekend involving a mass gathering of people," a council statement said. | "We have agreed with the police to remove the tree due to an event taking place on the site at the weekend involving a mass gathering of people," a council statement said. |
| "We... cut the tree down in such a way that it can be reused elsewhere in the city. | "We... cut the tree down in such a way that it can be reused elsewhere in the city. |
| "We will replace the City Square tree as soon as we can after the event." | "We will replace the City Square tree as soon as we can after the event." |
| A council employee, who did not wish to be named, sent an email to the BBC saying: "With the tree costing in excess of £2,000 I think it is, diabolically, to be replaced with another tree after the protest has finished at more cost to the taxpayer." | A council employee, who did not wish to be named, sent an email to the BBC saying: "With the tree costing in excess of £2,000 I think it is, diabolically, to be replaced with another tree after the protest has finished at more cost to the taxpayer." |