Towering Christmas trees fashioned out of carefully stacked lobster traps have been appearing along Canada's East Coast for about ten years.

Bizarre on Female First

Bizarre on Female First

Adorned with colourful buoys, twinkling lights and evergreen boughs, they are becoming regular fixtures in fishing communities across Atlantic Canada.

Suzy Atwood - who is tourism development officer for Barrington - said: ''It speaks to the importance (of lobster fishing) to our economy ... It's the backbone of our community.''

Last Sunday, about 150 people gathered for the lighting of the lobster trap tree, which took place near the windswept causeway to Cape Sable Island.

Barrington's five-metre tree is decorated with 180 wooden and plastic buoys, each painted in a pattern unique to each fishing boat.

Many of the colourful ornaments are inscribed with the names of fishermen lost at sea.

Atwood added: ''I'm reminded every year that as each of the buoys is put on the tree, they can bring heartache and sadness to the community.''