A pair of men have been charged with setting fire to a Christmas tree outside of a Reid Street business.

Garth John Hayward, 47, from Southampton, and Eugene Anderson, 52, of no fixed abode, both denied a charge of setting fire to a tree outside of the Clarien Bank building, knowing that the fire could spread to the building.

The incident reportedly took place on January 3.

Magistrate Khamisi Tokunbo released both defendants on $2,000 bail, ordering the matter return to the courts this month to be mentioned.