UPTON could be without Christmas trees this year unless the organisation that has put them up for the past decade receives more help.

Members of Upton Tourism and Trade Association warned that the work involved annually in setting up Christmas trees outside shops is simply too great.

It has urged traders to get involved more or lose the trees altogether.

Every year the association puts up lights and Christmas trees in the town in return for a £25 payment from traders who want decorations outside their shop.

But at their meeting last week members suggested scrapping the Christmas tree supply altogether this year.

They agreed that the decorations benefited the traders because they attracted people into the town, but felt not enough was done in return.

Member Nick Hannah said Christmas was a very important time for traders in Upton and members of the association, traders themselves, had been losing out because of their work.

Mr Hannah pointed out that the majority of the surrounding towns have their Christmas lights paid for by the local authority, but Upton Town Council and Malvern Hills District Council contributed nothing towards Upton's lights.

Members decided to approach the two councils for help with the Christmas decorations before any final decision was taken, although it was noted that previous approaches had yielded little.

An open meeting is also to be organised as soon as possible for townspeople to have their say on the matter. Representatives from the two councils are to be invited.