SEBASTIAN SHAKESPEARE: Ding-dong in Mayfair over Damien Hirst's syringe tree: Controversial artist's 'unusual' festive offering which is adorned with scissors and medicine bottles is deemed 'insensitive'

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At the age of 50, Damien Hirst can hardly still be considered an enfant terrible, but the sheep-pickling artist has lost none of his flair for controversy.

A Christmas tree that he decorated with syringes for one of Mayfair’s top hotels could soon be torn down after it was erected next to a church without permission.

Neighbours have branded the 30ft tree, which is also adorned with scissors and medicine bottles, ‘insensitive’ due to its proximity to the Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception and a shelter for homeless people, some of whom are thought to have drug problems.

Neighbours have branded Damien Hirst's 30ft Christmas tree, which is adorned with scissors, syringes and medicine bottles and situated outside the Connaught Hotel in Mayfair, central London, ‘culturally insensitive’

They also point to supposed ‘sexual connotations’ of the decorations and claim the tree could block a traditonal Nativity painting on the Grade I-listed church wall.

The tree was commissioned by the five-star Connaught Hotel, which is popular with Hollywood stars such as Bradley Cooper, Gwyneth Paltrow and Ben Stiller, and installed on the street outside in the middle of the night before Westminster City Council granted permission. 

Officials will meet tomorrow to decide its fate.

Neighbours have complained, with some claiming they were disturbed for eight hours on the night it was put up. The church’s Jesuit fathers are said to be among those kept awake. 

One neighbour wrote: ‘The noise and disruption to sleep was unacceptable. Farm Street church’s traditional Christmas painting on the church wall will be obscured. This is unacceptable.

‘The tone of some of the decorations and objects on the tree (syringes etc) and the sexual connotations of some of them is inappropriate and culturally insensitive. 

'The whole thing seems to have been done in a thoughtless manner.’

Neighbours have branded the tree, which is adorned with scissors and medicine bottles, ‘insensitive’ due to its proximity to a Catholic Church and a homeless shelter, some of whom are thought to have drug problems

Residents also point to supposed ‘sexual connotations’ of the decorations and claim the tree could block a traditional Nativity painting on the Grade I-listed wall of the Catholic Church of the Immaculate Conception

Blair Associates Architecture has applied for ‘advertisement consent’ to install the tree on the public highway. A Westminster Council officer has recommended that consent is granted.

He wrote: ‘The decorations are undoubtedly unusual and, although the objections that they are inappropriate are understood, they are a form of modern art and it is considered advertisement consent could not reasonably be withheld.’

Hotel co-owner Paddy McKillen previously said: ‘We were thrilled that Damien jumped to the challenge to create our first Connaught Tree.’

Multi-millionaire Hirst has claimed his tree is a ‘celebration of togetherness’. Try telling that to the neighbours.

Multi-millionaire artist Damien Hirst (right) has claimed his Christmas tree is a ‘celebration of togetherness’

Officials will meet tomorrow to decide the fate of the 30ft tree and whether the decorations are appropriate