Stephen Maitland, chairman of Shotton Colliery residents’ association, claimed the tree had been felled by “feral” kids.
He said: “Whoever has done it feels they can get away with it, but hopefully they will be caught.
“The residents in this village have never known anything like it.
“There is a big problem with anti-social behaviour here, and recently a dispersal order was issued because kids had been chucking mud at cars. We have had cars burnt out.”
Mr Maitland added: “The tree means a lot to everyone in the village. It was funded by local organisations and is dedicated to all those who died in the Second and First World Wars.
“The kids don’t understand any of that. They do not see the hurt they cause. The kids are feral.”
Cut down using a chainsaw
St Saviour’s, the village’s Anglican church, said the tree was cut down using a chainsaw.
“After all the people who gave their time and effort to raise funds to get a tree for the village,” a church spokesman said on Wednesday.
“This morning a tree surgeon has looked at the damage and said it’s been done with a chainsaw. May the people who caused this be caught and punished by the authorities.”
