A ‘Poundland’ Christmas tree that the council put up by mistake and ‘shocking’ festive lights that are ‘an absolute joke’ – are these Britain’s worst Yuletide decorations this year?

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Britons are marking the beginning of the festive season by showing off the worst Yuletide decorations their local councils can muster…

From limping Christmas trees compared unfavourably to Poundland, to barely visible fairy lights – the competition seems surprisingly stiff.

Baffled locals in Denton, Greater Manchester, took to social media to complain about ‘shocking’ lights on two trees in their town centre. 

Several existing trees which sit around the Christmas tree in the town square have been decorated with lights. However, two of these sets appear to have only a handful of working bulbs on them.

A post on a local Facebook group attracted almost 350 comments. One described them as a ‘s**t show’ while another commented: ‘Beautiful, no expense spared!’ 

Only a handful of fairy lights appear to work in a set draped around a tree in Denton town centre in Greater Manchester

The diminutive tree in the centre of Deal, Kent, has been mocked by locals after the wrong one was delivered to the council

Residents have reacted in fury over a ‘shocking’ Christmas tree that has been put up in Hattersley in Hyde, with pictures showing the threadbare spruce missing some of its boughs, while the ones remaining appear very thin

The poor state of a Christmas tree in Hattersley has prompted severe criticism from residents

A Tameside Council spokesman said they had erected an official Christmas tree in the town centre but denied having anything to do with the lights added to the existing trees nearby.

The spokesman said: ‘The council has provided a real cut Christmas tree with lights – as is our offer for all our towns – as well as the lights on the town hall. If any other lights have been lit, we will investigate, but they are not part of our offer.’

The council cited ‘continuing government funding cuts’ as the reason it was unable to add more lights in the towns across its area.

Tameside Council has already vowed to replace a tree in nearby Hattersley after a backlash from locals there. The ‘living tree’ was planted outside The Hub, a community centre on Stockport Road which includes a police post and council offices, a few years ago. But the threadbare spruce hasn’t thrived.

Residents hit out after they noticed workmen had decorated it in lights and put barriers around it on Monday morning in time for Friday’s lights ‘switch-on’.

Following the festive furore, council officials have promised to provide a ‘cut tree’ in time for the switch on and replace the ‘living tree’.

READ MORE: ARE THESE BRITAIN’S SADDEST CHRISTMAS TREES? LOCALS MOCK THREADBARE SPRUCES APPEARING IN TOWNS AND CITIES AROUND THE UK

Elsewhere, shoppers in a seaside town in Kent say the small Christmas tree in their high street is a laughing stock – after the wrong one was delivered to the council.

The tiny festive tree was put up in Deal, Kent, on Sunday by Dover District Council (DDC) but has been mocked by locals.

And now the council have admitted that the one they put up was not the one they had ordered.

The small spruce sits at the entrance to the town’s pier.

Peter Marsh, who has lived in Deal for 13 years, joked: ‘You can get bigger ones in Poundland.

‘It’s underwhelming. It’s almost as tall as the pampas grass but not quite as big.

‘I would have expected a better one. If you’re going to do it, do it properly.’

The 77-year-old is however pleased the council ‘isn’t spending too much money’.

Jill Breen, another Deal resident, agreed that the tree had a particularly small stature, adding: ‘It could be bigger.

‘It’s not the best I’ve ever seen but at least it’s not leaning to one side as I thought it might be.

‘It’s not too bad though. I think it should have a star. I think maybe at night it would look lovely.’

The 72-year-old will be ‘pleased’ to see a bigger, better tree put up.

Grace Gabrielli commented: ‘I think maybe we don’t need to spend a lot of money on a tree.

‘There’s a cost-of-living crisis. Maybe there are other things money needs to go into. I think with the lights on it would be fine.’

A 30ft high Christmas tree which has been erected in Walsall town centre has angered residents, local politicians and business leaders for its ‘shabby’ appearance

The council has already sent six workers (pictured) to try to smarten up the tree

It added that officials will be carrying out ‘quality checks’ on the tree in the coming days

Vanessa Hood, 67, who was visiting from Faversham with her husband Malcolm, said ‘a lot of people like to moan’.

‘It’s got lights so once they are on in the evening it would be nice,’ she said.

‘It’s a nice gesture by the council to put a tree up in the first place – it makes people feel better. I think a lot of people like to moan.’

DDC leader Cllr Kevin Mills insists a more impressive version is set to be installed ‘as a matter of urgency’.

‘I find it unacceptable that this has happened and it makes the council department that dealt with it look bad,’ the Labour councillor said.

‘The tree wasn’t the one that was ordered and the company that supplied it will be replacing it with the correct one as a matter of urgency.

‘I have insisted this has to be done as soon as possible.’

DDC has been approached for further comment.

It’s not the first time a Kent Christmas tree has received criticism. In 2012, Herne Bay’s offering was dubbed the worst in the UK. It was replaced, only for the new tree to be branded the other’s ‘ugly twin’.

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