Festive spirit was in abundance as families and businesses rallied to replace a community Christmas tree stolen from the street.   

On Saturday at about 4am, thieves snatched the 9ft tree tied to railings outside the Salvation Army building in Southwell Grove Road, Leytonstone.

It was arranged by the Neighbourhood Watch group and on December 14 members of the community gathered to decorate the tree, sing carols and switch on the lights.

But people woke on Saturday to see the tree and its 200 lights had been stolen.

Dafne Castro E Lemos and husband Josh Selfe are the ministers of the church and charity.

Mrs Castro E Lemos said: “I think gutted is probably the word I would use.

“The tree just brought so much festive joy.

“When we turned on the lights on the Sunday before, it was a lovely atmosphere.

“People say there is no community spirit but there is in this road, and in Leytonstone.

“One neighbour saw someone dragging it down the road and into a van. It is so sad.

“There was a trail of broken decorations down the street – all they left was the pot.

“We wrote a letter on the door to the tree bandits and then the appeal went out on Facebook.”

Determined people from across Leytonstone then rallied to find a replacement.

Shelley Williamson, 39, was a resident in the road for13 years and still owns a house in the street.

She said: “I didn’t think for a second the whole tree might be stolen.

“I couldn’t believe it. I just thought we cannot be beaten by this.

“There are five days until Christmas, so I started phoning around and asking about a tree.

“Everybody was so keen to help. There is an amazing amount of community spirit in Southwell Grove Road.”

Primrose Florist in High Road donated a tree and people came out on Sunday to decorate it, as children made decorations in the church.

“This is the embodiment of the Christmas spirit,” Mrs Castro E Lemos added.

“We are all so touched by the kindness of the people of Leytonstone.”