Volunteers from the Garden Club of Bermuda decorated the landmark Birdcage for Christmas – but their work was removed within hours after it was claimed it was a traffic hazard.

A spokeswoman for the club said the display at the Front Street fixture in Hamilton – which used dried fan palms to create giant poinsettias – was expected to remain over the festive season.

But the City of Hamilton moved several of the decorations to the flagpole on Front Street just after they were installed on Sunday night as it was feared they would block motorists’ views.

A spokeswoman said: “The Garden Club of Bermuda wanted to add a touch of magic of its own to the city and adorned the Birdcage with silver garlands and small and large vibrant poinsettias – which proved too much of a distraction for the motorists.

“The Corporation of Hamilton carefully relocated the large poinsettias to the flagpole on Front Street and we are thrilled to have our designs not only in one but two locations.”

Debbie Burville, Susan Conyers and Cindy Young designed the holiday exhibit, which used island-grown Chinese fan palms.

The spokeswoman said: “Dried plant material is often used throughout the floral art world for designs and crafts.

“It is very versatile as it can be painted, dyed, soaked for added flexibility and manipulated into different shapes.

“It doesn’t require any floral foam which is something that floral designers are moving away from as it is not biodegradable.”

A spokeswoman for the City confirmed its staff had moved the larger decorations from the Birdcage.

She said: “The poinsettias were unfortunately too large for that space and were affecting the line of sight and causing a safety issue.

“However, they have been carefully reinstalled by our team at the flagpole and we encourage members of the public to take a look at them as they are absolutely beautiful.”

The display was the latest of several organised by the Garden Club, which celebrated its 100th anniversary in April.

The group organised a series of “flower flashes” around the city earlier this year and decorated the junction of Reid and Burnaby Streets and the Birdcage with sunflowers, snapdragons and lilies.

The club also delivered bouquets of Easter lilies to seniors’ homes and pledged to plant both sides of the Railway Trail pedestrian bridge over Flatts Inlet.

The organisation in addition made donations to Keep Bermuda Beautiful, the Bermuda National Trust, the Bermuda Biological Society and Buy Back Bermuda as part of their anniversary celebrations.