A much-loved Christmas Tree of Light in a Shropshire town will not be axed after all, it was revealed today.

The giant leylandii tree outside St Nicholas’ Church in Newport has lit up the town during the festive period for the past decade. And its twinkling lights, kindled as a ‘remembrance’, have helped raise thousands of pounds for charity as townsfolk pay to dedicate a light to a lost loved one.

Newport Town Council chiefs had planned to chop it down as it obstructed the view of the church – but they now look set to do a u-turn after concerns about cost and time in getting a replacement for this year.

A report due to go before members at a meeting tomorrow says: “Following a comprehensive tree survey, the leisure and environmental services committee recommended the large leylandii in the grounds of St Nicholas Church be removed, in part to significantly improve the view of the Church from the High Street.

“The committee were mindful of the significance of the tree as part of the Christmas lighting display and the clerk was asked to work on an alternative – lighting the Church Tower to form a Tower of Light or replace it with a more appropriate species.

“Following conversations with the church and the conservation officer it has transpired that a workable solution to install Christmas lights on the Church tower will require a faculty from the Church of England and a detailed submission to Telford & Wrekin Council.

“The clerk has been unable to progress the issue as quickly as the council had intended. An alternative to the Tower of Light has been investigated, to replace the leylandii with a temporary Christmas tree.

“An initial quote to put in a 30-foot fir tree for six weeks is in the region of £1,900. Having considered the current position and timing, it is the clerk’s recommendation that the leylandii remains in situ until the Christmas lighting display is taken down in January 2011 to avoid the one-off expenditure.”

By Jason Lavan