A mum from Wiltshire might just have this year's weirdest tree topper, after turning a T-REX into the centrepiece of her festive display. The unusual design has delighted her family, who embraced the dinosaur after receiving it in a delivery mix-up.
Mum Chloe Hewitt ordered a dainty Woodland Star Tree Topper from The Range thinking it would provide the perfect final touch to their woodland-themed tree. So you can imagine her surprise when a 2ft T-REX arrived instead. The 25-year-old first realised something had gone wrong when she received a giant parcel much bigger than the 10-inch decoration she was expecting.
Initially wary, the carer tore off the paper to discover a 2ft T-Rex toy lurking inside that roared when she picked it up instead of the £3.99 ornament.
Baffled by the scaly imposter, Chloe double-checked her order confirmation to ensure she hadn't made a mistake and also checked her dinosaur-mad daughter Skyler hadn't changed the order.
While Skyler couldn't shed any light on the mystery, the seven-year-old schoolgirl was so thrilled by the mix-up she "bouncing off the walls". Now, the dinosaur has pride of place on the family's tree - where Chloe says he'll now stay - even if a replacement star is found.
Chloe, from Westbury, Wiltshire, said: "I spotted that one on The Range's website and I thought 'ooh I like the glitter on that, I'll have it. Only £3.99, bargain'. Then I got a knock on the door on Tuesday and I asked, 'is this for me?'.
"I was quite confused when it arrived, I expected the parcel to be a tiny thing and this box was massive. I remember thinking 'oh no I've ordered some kind of gigantic star'. I opened the box and I saw this weird pattern, I got a bit scared, I was like 'oh my god what is in this box?'
"I didn't want to take it out because I didn't know what it was, it could have been anything. I picked it up by its belly and then it started roaring at me. It was this gigantic T-Rex which my daughter's now nicknamed Tree-Rex.
"She loves dinosaurs, so was in her element. I said to my partner, how on earth have they confused a tree topper with a giant dinosaur?
She added: "We put the tree up the day before and I've stuck him on a branch, he's just balancing there. I'm under strict instructions not to move him. Skyler said that even if the star comes it's not going on the tree, the dinosaur's staying. Anything to keep her happy."
Thankfully, the mum is starting to come round to the dinosaur too. "I'm getting used to him, he's growing on me a bit now. I think because Skyler's called him 'Tree-Rex I'm slowly coming round to the idea of it. He blends in perfectly among the green," she revealed.
"Tree-Rex fits in with the green theme, it must have been destiny. I've contacted The Range to say I've got the wrong item, they've not replied yet. If they offer a swap I'm going to have to say I need to keep it, I'll pay for it, because my daughter's in love with it. It can't leave this house, it's a member of the family now."
A spokesperson for The Range said: "Clearly there was an error in our delivery service on this day but we are so pleased Skylar received a surprise gift which made her day a bit more roar-some.
"We have now contacted the customer and have gifted her the correct tree topper. We wish the family a very merry Christmas."
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