'Looks like a bl**dy cactus! Residents of Doncaster town slam 'let down' Christmas tree
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People gathered in Mexborough town centre for the festive switch on Thursday night – and the display was met with mixed reviews.
The tree itself was illuminated by a string of lights, but angry residents weren't as stunned by the display as they had hoped, reported the Daily Star.
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Hide AdA video from local Gary Jones captured the countdown to the moment the lights were switched on. There was a small cheer from the crowd after the sparse lights lit up, followed by some giggles.
Gary then panned the camera to his son who, with a bewildered expression, remarked "it's just some orange lights".
It was not just Gary's son that was disappointed, as people took to Facebook to discuss the lacklustre tree.
One person said: "Where's all the lights?"
Another jokingly commented: "Looks like a bl**dy cactus!"
"What a build-up and then the big let down," said a third.
But, despite the Christmas tree, Gary said that he and his children had a "lovely" time at the event, which also included live music, local food stalls and a chance for children to meet Father Christmas.
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Hide AdLocal councillor Sean Gibbons also defended the event, which he explained was put together by him and his colleagues at very short notice.
He said: "We had many smiling faces, it's just unfortunate that some people are ungrateful and want more from a small event."
Coun Gibbons also said that the event was privately funded by the small ward councillor budgets, which add up to only £3,000.
He said: "We would have wanted more, but it was so last minute we were lucky to get that - the tree was an extra tree we got and there were no lights on it until we funded it."
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Hide AdCouncillors in the town have long criticised Doncaster Council for a lack of support and the Mexborough ward on the authority is represented by three councillors under the Mexborough First party, including Coun Gibbons.