VANDALS have also attacked the Christmas tree at the centre of Bewdley's festive decorations in what organisers called an act of "deliberate sabotage."

The tree lights were blacked out over the weekend and early this week after the attack, during which the culprit appears to have climbed the tree and caused a nearby electrical transformer to come down.

Police are looking into the incident which came less than a week after the tree - by the war memorial next to St Anne's Church - was lit up to rapturous applause.

"It could have been more serious if those concerned had been struck by the equipment they pulled down or received an electric shock through the cable, which was severed," said Allan Percy, of Bewdley Rotary Club, which provided the tree.

"It took two people to get the transformer up on to the church parapet and so for it to topple off is extremely dangerous," he added.

The pavement was damaged by the falling transformer while the top of the tree, in Load Street, was left in a "sorry state," he added.

Rotary Club secretary Eric Rowland said: "On Saturday night someone caused more damage after climbing up the tree and sticking a traffic cone on top. It was all very distressing and really beggars belief."

Bewdley beat manager PC Nigel Barter said officers received a call about youths climbing the tree on Friday night but they had disappeared by the time police arrived.

"It was a childish and dangerous prank, he said.

The lights - provided by Bewdley Town Council - were illuminated again on Tuesday.