looks set to be avoided -- after merchants arranged for extra shipments to be brought in.

Around 10,000 trees are normally imported from Canada each year to celebrate the festive season but this year about 25 percent of the crop had to be destroyed because they were infected with pine needle scale.

But last night grocery magnate Richard Powell confirmed that "that gap had been filled'' with extra shipments due next week.

Mr. Powell, who runs Lines Food and Liquor Market on Ord Road, Warwick, said: " Nobody should be disappointed -- there's not going to be the shortage that was first predicted.