Britain's lamest Christmas tree needles locals in Kent

Who said adults don't take Christmas seriously. According to an article in the Sun this Christmas tree has been slammed as the worst decorated Christmas tree in Britain - after crowds booed it at the switch-on. A crowd of over 1,000 was left stunned by the “shocking” lights when pantomime stars Gareth Gates and Toyah Wilcox flicked the switch. Onlookers broke into spontaneous boos and jeers when the anti-climactic display of lights - which barely covered the tree - flickered into life.

Other Christmas revellers in Herne Bay, Kent, stormed off in disgust. One resident condemned the decorations as looking like a couple of domestic LIGHTBULBS, while a local businessman laughingly claimed he had more decorations in his own shop window. Shop owners slammed the Herne Bay Business Association for the dismal tree and said the lights were so bad they would damage their vital Christmas trade.

Revellers huddled in the bitter cold to view the town’s grand switch-on last Friday evening, but most left nearly two hours earlier than expected. The council had hoped the lights would encourage a flurry of late-night shopping and urged businesses to open until 7pm - but most potential shoppers had left by 5.45pm.

Greengrocer Stan Truelove, 57, said: “It took me an hour to put some lights and a few decorations up in my shop and it definitely looks better than these lights. “Christmas tree lights are supposed to put you in the mood for shopping but no one will want to spend money here.” A disappointed mum-of-three, who asked not to be named, said: “I could notbelieve how bad the lights are.

“It was supposed to be this grand unveiling but the lights look atrocious -they were so bad people started booing.

“I think it must be the country’s worst set of Christmas tree lights.” Canterbury City Council has now launched a consultation over the Christmas tree lights. A spokesman said: “The display in Herne Bay this year is the same as last year’s, with the exception of some netting.”

(http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/4662009/Kent-crowds-boo-UKs-worst-Christmas-Treet.html )