PETER Toms complains about the ‘scrappy little trees’ that are part of Bridport’s Christmas decorations (Letters, November 20).

When our children were young, they thought it the most magical thing in the world to drive into town and see all the little trees glittering above the shops of East, West and South Street.

This spelt Christmas to them – real trees, silvery lights, simple, but wonderfully effective.

In the 40 years that have passed since, there are more gaps now than there once were and so the effect is not as rich as it was.

Local businesses stay true to the old tradition. National ones, shamefully, do not. But please, let’s keep the real trees.

ANNA WARE
Loscombe