Council bosses were today labelled “Scrooges” after telling traders in a Wolverhampton suburb they cannot put up a Christmas tree outside their shops.

The firms wanted to inject some Yuletide cheer into their small shopping community in Penn Fields and felt a nearby traffic island would be the ideal spot for a tree. The parade of around 10 shops is based on Jeffcock Road at its junction with Stubbs Road and Birches Barn Road.

The traders agreed to put some money into a kitty for lights and other decorations in anticipation of a thumbs up from the city council.

But their plans have been dashed after letters were sent out from the authority telling them it would be too dangerous to erect a tree on the roundabout as it would distract drivers.

Derek Whitehouse, who runs the grocery and flower shop Derek’s Daisies, said: “They had a pagoda with flowers hanging off it one year, so how a Christmas tree is any different, I just can’t see. We’re not asking for a 40ft pine.”

Barry Hickinbottam, of D & B Flooring and Interiors, had spearheaded the plan. He said of the council: “They’re all Scrooges.”

Ram Joshi, of Pooja Sweets, said: “We’re not looking to get anything free – we’re all prepared to put our hands in our pockets.”

Satbinder Singh, 38, of Autoparts, said: “With a recession going on, we just wanted to put a smile on people’s faces.”

The council is expected to comment later today.