NOTTINGHAM City Council has been criticised for spending almost £4,000 of taxpayers' money on a Christmas tree for its headquarters.

The 35ft artificial tree will sit in the main atrium of Loxley House in Station Street.

The council is seeking sponsorship to meet the cost of the £5,000 tree, but so far it has only received just over £1,000.

Notts County Council has a second-hand Christmas tree in its reception at County Hall, which was donated about five years ago.

Martin Allen, senior organiser of union GMB Midland and East Coast, said: "When there is a time of austerity and our members are facing redundancy decisions like this need to be evaluated seriously to see whether taxpayers are getting value for money.

"The GMB certainly isn't cancelling Christmas in any way, shape or form. When we were on a protest last Saturday it was nice to see the Christmas tree going up in Slab Square – but that's for the people of Nottingham to enjoy."

Loxley House, which houses about 2,000 council staff plus councillors, has a security system and members of the public need to be signed in and accompanied at all times.

However, the council said children were being invited to make decorations for the tree to represent their school.

From December 13, local pupils will also be invited to sing Christmas carols around the tree every lunchtime for their parents, starting with youngsters from Bluebell Hill Primary School in St Ann's.

The council is also launching an appeal to provide Christmas presents for 1,500 children who are looked after directly or indirectly by the authority.

Stars will be hung on the tree with the age and gender of a child, which staff can take down and then buy an appropriate present for a child. The public and businesses can also donate money to help the council buy presents. The £5,000 cost of the tree, supplied by national company PHS Greenleaf, also covers decoration, erection and dismantling.

The council contribution to the cost is coming from its budget for the relocation to Loxley House.

The council's corporate directors are paying for five smaller trees for each floor of Loxley House from their own pockets.

City council chief executive Jane Todd said: "We realise times are tough but we feel it is important to let our staff and visitors enjoy Christmas.

"We have made the Christmas tree the focal point of our Christmas appeal for gifts for children in our care, with city children helping to decorate and sing around the tree with their families.

"We are reducing the costs to the council through sponsorship of the tree by local firms, and have limited Christmas decorations provided by the council to one large tree."

Any decorations in other council buildings are generally funded through donations from staff. The tree in the Council House has been replaced this year because it became unsafe after about ten years. It's an 8ft tree which cost the council £80. The tree in Old Market Square cost £7,500.

For further information about the Christmas Stars appeal, and to make a donation, visit www.mynottingham.gov.uk/christmaskids.