Remember Southampton's own "Leaning Tower of Christmas" that took the city by storm back in 2018?

It was a time of festive cheer, twinkling lights, and... a wonky Christmas tree?

Forget the Leaning Tower of Pisa, Southampton had its very own tilted festive marvel that year. This 30-foot fir tree, standing proudly - or perhaps "lopsidedly" - in Guildhall Square, became an unexpected sensation.

It seems the blustery British weather had a hand in this arboreal acrobatics.

High winds, reaching a dizzying 44 mph, nudged the tree into a jaunty lean, creating a unique spectacle that had everyone talking.

(Image: Echo)

And talk they did! Visitors to the city's Christmas market and Flying Santa display couldn't resist a detour to this quirky landmark.

Selfies were snapped, poses were struck - mimicking holding the tree up, of course - and social media went wild.

Was it an art installation? A deliberate prank? Nope, just good old-fashioned British weather doing its thing.

Cllr Satvir Kaur, Southampton's cabinet member for homes and culture at the time, found herself inundated with "wonky tree" pictures. "It wasn't intentional," she admitted, "but I'm happy for it to be a talking point."

(Image: Echo)

And a talking point it certainly was! The tree brought smiles, sparked conversations, and added a touch of the unexpected to the festive season.

This wasn't just any Christmas tree; it was a symbol of Southampton's unique spirit. It was a reminder that sometimes, the most memorable moments come from the unexpected, the quirky, the slightly off-kilter.

So, raise a glass of eggnog or mulled wine to Southampton's Leaning Tower of Christmas, a festive icon that proved that sometimes, it's good to be a little wonky.