A MAN has been charged with vandalism after allegedly breaking a 30ft Christmas tree when he climbed up it.

The tree in the centre of Jedburgh, Roxburghshire, was left with a four foot piece at the top snapped off sometime between November 14 and 19.

It is understood a man tried to scale the tree before it broke and he fell to the ground. It is thought he was injured in the fall but did not need treatment.

Scottish Borders Council fixed the damage by binding the tree back together.

Lothian and Borders Police confirmed they had charged a 22-year-old man with vandalism over the incident.

A spokesman for Scottish Borders Council said: "It was extremely disappointing to see this act of vandalism carried out."

In 2004, the town's Christmas tree was hacked down with a chainsaw in a drunken dare.