A Christmas tree put up in an Ashford restaurant four months before the festive season has been taken down.

The tree was spotted earlier this week in the Harvester in Canterbury Road, Kennington, by Daren Payne and his family.

Mr Payne, of Dering Road, said: "It was quite a shock to be greeted by a Christmas tree in August.

"I understand that they are just getting in early for the Christmas bookings.

The tree was part of a promotion for the company's 2014 Christmas menu and is understood to have been put up by a manager who got into the 'Christmas spirit a little too soon'.

And now, 24-hours after an article about the premature tree appeared on Kent Online, the company has revealed that the tree has been removed."