A village has fallen foul of The Grinch who stole Christmas after a tree was chopped down and stolen.

The Aylesford tree was opposite the Station Road car park, on the green on the junction of Station Road and Forstal Road.

But it appears someone has felled it and taken it for their own, leaving just a stump behind.

Colin De Lorme, who planted the tree six years ago, said: "I couldn't believe it when I found out.

"I planted the tree as a nice thing for the village, and it's been decorated every year since."

"There's no doubt someone has taken it for their Christmas tree."

MP Tracey Crouch tweeted to express her disbelief, saying: "Cannot believe it - somebody has nicked the village pine tree!"

The Chatham and Aylesford MP also wrote on her Facebook page about the incident, with her post being shared more than 100 times by angry residents.