Residents have rallied to decorate the Christmas tree outside Lewisham police station – dubbed the country's most depressing tree.

The cop shop, in the High Street, placed their yuletide tree outside the station - but then encased it in metal barriers.

MORE TOP STORIES Giving the impression they had kettled their own tree, social media exploded with jokes and puns a-plenty.

Special branch, elf and safety and ‘suspected of having needles’ were among the jokes at the poor tree's expense.

But, after being labelled ‘depressing’, members of the community have come forward with decorations to spruce up the spruce.

Charity For Jimmy, set up after Jimmy Mizen was murdered inside a bakery in Burnt Ash Hill in 2008 - a day after the Lee teen's 16th birthday, have rallied to the tree’s aid.

The charity are using the empty space inside the Café of Good Hope, in Hither Green, to sell Christmas trees after it was ruined by floods.

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The charity decks the tree with police tape

Members of the team have brought down tinsel, baubles and decorations to deck out the tree today (December 10).

Previously sporting just a set of the lights, the tall tree now boasts festive blue and gold tinsel.

Lewisham police are now encouraging others to do the same ahead of the Borough Commander’s carol concert at 7pm tonight.