Underwhelming Christmas lights switch-on booed by disappointed crowd

A Kent town's Christmas display was booed by crowds when the lights were switched on. Several hundred people gathered in Herne Bay to watch the stars of the local Sleeping Beauty panto, Gareth Gates and Toyah Wilcox, turn them on.


Photo from SWNS.

One person said the decorations looked like normal light bulbs, while another said he had more in his shop window. Greengrocer Karen Truelove described the switch-on in the town centre as "completely flat".

"There was nothing for people to look at... within half-an-hour the town was like a ghost town." Local businesses and residents have now formed a group "to light up Herne Bay next year" and to highlight the "disgusting waste" of money on lights "that are not as good as some local houses".


YouTube link.

Canterbury City Council said it was the same display as last year, but it would consult with local businesses. Earlier, singer and actress Toyah Wilcox tweeted: "Herne bay light switch on was an honour and a joy. The people were fantastic & they r what counts. I'd never b disappointed by lights :-)"