A Herne Bay developer has pledged more than £8,000 sponsorship to stop a repeat of the town’s dismal Christmas tree and lights dubbed the ‘worst in Britain’ last year.

Mark Quinn, owner of the Herne Bay Sports Hub development, will provide a 20ft-high Christmas tree, complete with 2,000 bulbs and 12 new garlands of lights to extend through town centre streets.

He said: “I was shocked by the reaction to the tree last year and it must have been heartbreaking for those involved to get the headlines they did after all of their hard work.

“I hope that the new tree we are providing will bring some Christmas cheer to the town.

“I am delighted that my company is a sponsor of the Herne Bay Christmas tree and lights this year.

“We want to see Herne Bay prosper, and believe that the Christmas tree will be a symbol of the town’s bigger and brighter future.”

It follows last year’s disappointing Christmas tree and lights where Toyah Wilcox and Gareth Gates were booed by crowds that had gathered for the switch-on.

This year's switch-on will take place on December 7, with stalls and decorations festooning the town centre streets from 10.30am to 5.30pm.

At a meeting of Herne Bay councillors last week, Cllr Ron Flaherty said: “Last year we had all the headlines saying that we had the worst Christmas tree in the country."

“I hope this year the press will be writing a headline saying that we have got the best Christmas tree and lights.”