The competition was fierce at the fourth annual Christmas tree competition on Monday at CedarBridge Academy.

Three teams squared off against each other in tree decorating.

Team Blue survived a scare late in the competition as its tree toppled over before being judged.

Team Red created a tree representing Bermudian culture. It was covered with handmade onions, cricket bats, and kites. 'Match Me if You Can' leaves were used as the skirt of the tree and bay leaves were painted gold and wrapped around the tree. Peacock feathers poked out from the top, completing the Bermuda feel of the tree. Three students from Team Red presented the tree to the judges declaring the theme, 'Bermuda Heritage'.

Team Gold created a tree with a Gombey theme - 'Gombey Gold' - and all ornaments were handmade.

Two students, Annamarie Perry and Mauriaca Ollivierre, dressed in authentic Gombey costumes and performed a dance - complete with whistles - for the judges.

When asked why no boys were Gombeys, Ms Perry told The Royal Gazette: "We couldn't get any guys to do it. They were too embarrassed but I don't care about making a fool of myself."

Team Blue picked 'I dream' as its theme. The judges were asked to write a dream on a sheet of paper which was then added to the other dreams already adorning the tree.

A huge stuffed Santa sat in front of the tree with two students dressed as angels adjacent to it.

When the judges' decisions were announced, Team Gold shouted in celebration after being declared the winner. Team Blue finished second while Team Red finished third.

Team Gold consisted of students, Annamarie Perry, Mauriaca Ollivierre, Kelly Sousa, Laurie Thompson, Cheyanne Darrell, McQuinn Burch and Carlos Trott and teachers Lynne Wade, Tina Duke, Kim Lightbourne, and Catherine Woods.

The three trees will be donated to rest homes.

Judges were Susan Paynter, a development manager, Lillian Grant, a retired nurse, Mark Stearns, from The Masterworks Foundation, and Laura Bell of the Bermuda Arts Society.