A SANDFORD man has made an interesting confession about a Christmas tree.

Michael Lee (87), of Dowrich, explained: "When I was 10 my brother, who was 13 and I went hunting for a Christmas tree on Christmas Eve.

"We went through Dowrich Wood and discovered two Christmas trees growing on the edge of the lane near the leat on the lane towards Yelland.

"We did not realise the tree belonged to Mr Low, the owner of Dowrich House.

"Since we could not find any others we decided to take the top half that year and agreed we would take the the bottom half the next year.

"There was a war on and we left the other tree to continue to grow. No-one ever discovered our deadly crime."

Michael added: "Now, 77 years later, that same tree is 100 feet tall and doing well!

"My father, Henry Lee bought the woods and the rest of the land in 1955, so there is no argument who owns the tree!"