MYSTERY surrounds who hacked down a popular Christmas tree that 'brings a smile' to people who drive past it. 

The tree, which is between the slipway and the A35 carriageway leading to the Upton Roundabout, is decorated by an anonymous Christmas-lover each December.

However,  it was felled this week in a suspected vandalism attack.

It now lies on its side with decorations still on it.

The culprit is unknown, but fans of the festive tree want to know who was responsible.

Upton resident Steve Escott said that he and other locals look out for the decorated tree every year and that it brings a smile to many people’s faces.

Bournemouth Echo: The tree is decorated annually by an anonymous person.

He was told it had been cut down on Wednesday afternoon after he had seen it still standing on Tuesday.

He said he was ‘a bit miffed’ when he saw it had been chopped down.

The dad of two said his children used to look out for it each December during the school run.

Seeing it cut down had left his children ‘quite upset’, the account manager said.

He posted on a community group on Facebook about it, to raise awareness and see if anyone knew anything about it.

Bournemouth Echo: The chopped down tree.

Steve said residents who commented on his post were shocked and upset that someone would cut it down.

“It’s just bizarre,” Steve said. “I was completely surprised that someone would stoop so low to do something so random.

“To go and cut it down, it’s odd.

“It’s not somewhere where you could easily to get to, to cut it down, you’d have to think about it and make a concerted effort.

“That’s the bit that surprised me.”

He doesn’t believe that the tree has been cut down by the council, as the decorations were left on the tree, and it was not taken away.

The Daily Echo has contacted Dorset Council and the county police force for more information.