Wonky Christmas tree sparks bemusement at beach

The tree ended up lop-sided despite the best efforts of Robert Mabey and eight of his friends

Residents living in a seaside town have been left positively bemused after their annual Christmas tree was installed on a wonk.

It sparked a series of humorous responses on Facebook after the fir was spotted on Aldeburgh beach, in east Suffolk, by Jayne Dale.

Robert Mabey, the chairman of Aldeburgh United Charities, said he took "full responsibility for the fact it lies at an 80-degree angle".

Referencing the tree's lopsided appearance from the side, he joked: "It's fine if you look out to sea. In fact, it looks dead straight".

Mr Mabey has hauled a tree to the beach for the past decade, creating a space for quiet reflection.

However, the process went south this week when, despite having the assistance of eight friends, the tree ended up lop-sided and refused to budge.

Robert Mabey admitted the trees was "not looking too great"

"It didn't look too bad when I left it, but when I was walking away and looked sideways I just thought 'Oh God'," Mr Mabey told the BBC.

"If you look at it from the front it's perfectly straight, but if you come from the north or the south - it's not looking too great."

The mishap inspired a good-humoured response from locals on Facebook.

Ms Dale, who sparked the conversation by sharing an image of the tree, coined an old Suffolk phrase by saying it was "on the huh".

Others were quick to reference the similarity in circumstances to when a 30ft (9m) tree in the Cambridgeshire town of March was also placed on a wonk.

Locals later claimed the international attention that followed had "put March on the map".

Commenting about the Aldeburgh tree, one Facebook user concluded: "The tree looks fine, it's the other buildings that are a little off".