Fuming villagers have blasted council bosses for spending £1,450 on a Christmas tree that only stands at six feet tall.
The tree was planted in Diggle, Oldham and is to be the village's first "permanent" Christmas tree.
However, once the price of the tree was revealed residents said those who approved buying it were "massively ripped off".
Diggle Village Association, which split the cost of the tree with the council, claimed it was £200 cheaper than the repair work needed to erect a temporary fir.
And they added that the massive charge for their newly planted evergreen had included "cost of labour, electricity hook up and lights".
However, many locals still struggled to see the spruce as value for money and believed the tree could be ten times over budget.
One said on Facebook : "Wow, massively ripped off there! A 6ft tree will cost approx £60 to £100 depending on where you buy from then you add labour costs and you'll be far far less than the £1,450 you've paid."
Another furious local just wrote: “£1,450 for a tree?!!!!! How???”
While a further resident wrote: "I'm no expert on tree prices, feels 10x overpriced.”
Other locals joked that the tree wouldn’t need to be hooked up to mains electricity and would only require a low-watt solar system to keep its lights illuminated. They said: “Don't need an electric hookup, just need solar."
Another joked: “Oh dear, please be aware of scammers.”
A spokesperson from Diggle Village Association responded to the criticism, saying it would have cost £1,250 to put up a temporary tree this year due to maintenance costs.
They also said the land where the tree was planted late last week was owned by Oldham council so they had to use “certified contractors”.
And they added that though the tree might only be 6ft at the moment it would “continue to grow year after year.”
They said: “The concrete base for the temporary tree is broken, and the cost to fix it was £500 plus £750 for a temporary tree. TOTAL £1,250. The cost of the permanent tree was £1,450. This includes the cost of labour, electricity hook up and lights.
"Unfortunately, the land is managed by Oldham Council, so planting our own tree wasn’t an option. We had to use their certified contractors, hence the price. We met 50% of this cost along with our local Councillors, who paid the other half. We now have our first permanent Christmas tree in our village, something that will continue to grow year after year."
Hannah Roberts, the cabinet member for neighbourhoods, said the authority agreed to fund the tree due to sustainability and environmental reasons. And she also claimed the tree was "the largest recommended" and was taller than 6ft.
She said: “Following discussions between the council and Diggle Village Association (DVA), it was agreed to plant a living Christmas tree as this is a much more sustainable option compared to previous years when disposable trees were on show.
“More communities are opting for living trees, although small to start with they are more environmentally friendly, and have paid for themselves after two years. The tree is the largest recommended – it is more than 6ft high and will get bigger as it grows.
"Bigger trees run to thousands of pounds and are far less likely to successfully take to their new location. The costs quoted include the purchase and delivery of the tree. It also covers excavation work carried out by council staff as specialist equipment had to be used so an irrigation pipe and electrical extension could be fitted.
"Hopefully, the tree will take quickly and grow and mature in the years to come. As the tree grows the plan is to expand the lights display."
