Norwegians have hit back at criticism of their annual Christmas tree gift to Britain after Londoners described it as 'scrawny' and 'half dead'.
Bemused visitors to Trafalgar Square have been expressing their disappointment after the famous tree arrived in the capital looking a bit worse for wear.
Complaints have included that the 78-foot-tall Norwegian spruce looked 'half eaten' and 'hungover' ahead of the official lighting ceremony.
Others suggested it was 'retaliation' for Manchester United's sacking of Ole Gunnar Solskjær, the Norwegian football manager.
However, Norwegians have defended the tree against attacks, questioning what the UK had given them in return.
The Norwegian spruce has been an annual gift to London from Oslo each year since 1947, but the 24metre tree (pictured) has come under fire this year for looking 'half dead' and 'hungover'
Oslo resident Lars Anton told The Times: 'All the British gave us last Christmas was the Kent variant. If they don't want the tree we can come and get it back.'
Marianne Borgen, Oslo's mayor, took a more diplomatic line in responding to criticism, describing it as a 'gift of love' between the two countries.
'People complain all the time. In 2019 I was told it looked like a cucumber,' she said.
'In the end, the tree is not really a tree at all, it’s a symbol of solidarity and friendship. It comes from the forest that embraces Oslo on all sides. So while it might arrive with injuries, it remains a gift of love.'
The Norwegian spruce has been an annual gift to the people of London from Oslo each year since 1947, as a token of gratitude for British support for Norway during the Second World War.
Ms Borgen was joined by Andrew Smith, the Lord Mayor of Westminster, last month in Oslo for a ceremony to cut down the Christmas tree so it could be transported to London.
Marianne Borgen, Oslo's mayor, took a more diplomatic line in responding to criticism, describing it as a 'gift of love' between the two countries
Ms Borgen was joined by Andrew Smith, the Lord Mayor of Westminster (pictured together), last month in Oslo for a ceremony to cut down the Christmas tree so it could be transported to London
'I am pleased that people are passionate - it is a sign that Londoners care about the present we have sent them,' Mayor Borgen added. 'The tree comes from a forest.
'This is a love tree and it means a lot to us to give it to Londoners. Though it started as a thank you to the British people for their help during World War Two, it is now as much about friendship, solidarity, hope for the future and peace.
'The tree symbolises all this and I hope that when the lights are turned on, the symbolic message behind the gift is what people have in mind.'
Photographs taken on Wednesday showed hydraulic cranes raising the tree next to Nelson's Column, but the tree's 'spindly' appearance left many passersby underwhelmed.
Taking to Twitter, bewildered locals joked the spruce, which was felled from a Norwegian forest in November, proves Britain has offended Norway after Brexit and disagreements earlier this year about fishing rights.
One user quipped: 'Have we gone to war with Norway?'
Another wrote: 'We're in for a terrible Christmas this year, this tree has predicted it.'
While a third commented:
