Christmas really gets town’s goat

CHRISTMAS trees and lights are popping up in every main street and square in villages and towns around the country.

But in a town in Sweden, their traditional festive decoration is somewhat unusual – and maybe that’s why it doesn’t tend to last long.

In Gavle, a giant effigy of a goat is erected in the centre of town for Advent.

It’s the 50th year the straw and wood structure has been erected – and on 35 of those occasions arsonists have burned it down.

Around £200,000 was spent on building the structure and employing extra security guards and CCTV to make sure firestarters wouldn’t strike again.

It didn’t work. The effigy was burned down within 24 hours last week.

Clearly this is a Christmas decoration that has got someone’s goat.