A "Christmas tree" deftly made and decorated using items that passengers had to leave behind during screening is on display at Vilnius Airport in Lithuania. AFP

Staff at the Lithuanian airport in Vilnius came up with a sharp idea to remind travellers that safety comes first: a Christmas tree made of confiscated knives and toy guns.

The "tree" on display in the airport departures hall stands one-and-a-half metres (five feet) tall and was deftly made and decorated using items that passengers had to leave behind during screening.

"Knives, scissors, lighters, blades, and all sorts of other dangerous goods − this Christmas tree has them all," airport spokesman Tadas Vasiliauskas told reporters.

"If you don't want your personal, yet prohibited, belonging to land on our Christmas tree next year, you'd better check out the baggage requirements before packing for your next flight," he added.

Vilnius airport has served over 4.6 million passengers so far this year, according to official statistics posted the Lithuania Aiports website.

Agence France-Presse