yesterday when it forgave the men accused of stealing the town's tree.

Mayor the Wor. Henry Hayward has said the town will not press charges against the two men accused of taking it from King's Square.

Kindly St. Georgians have decided the theft was a prank that did little harm to the Christmas festivities.

The tree is now firmly planted back in King's Square although it is three feet shorter than it was.

It went missing on Thursday night, infuriating residents who have been used to seeing the Christmas tree there for the past 25 to 30 years.

But Police quickly found it, complete with its lights, in a local home. Three feet had been lopped off so it could fit into the house.

The tree was returned while Police interviewed the two men, aged 20 and 21, and they were expected to be charged.

But Mr. Hayward said: "In the Christmas spirit we have decided not to push charges. It was just a Christmas prank after they had been to a party and had too much to drink.

"There were no serious repercussions as a result of the theft and the tree has been returned with its decorations.

"I think they will probably have had enough of a hard time being arrested, plus they must have had bad hangovers.''