Council Scrooges who ordered a charity to remove a banner advertising its Christmas card shop have performed a festive u-turn - after one of KentOnline's sister newspapers stepped in to help.

Cards for Good Causes, which sells cards and gifts in aid of more than 40 charities, wanted to advertise its new pop-up shop in the former MultiYork furniture store in Best Lane in Canterbury.

But after placing a banner across railings on the nearby Three Cities Garden, council officials insisted it must be removed because it did not have planning permission.

The volunteers were also warned that leaving their A-board in the street could result in a fine.

It was a blow to the charity, which had already been forced to find alternative accommodation following the closure of Nasons department store in September, where volunteers had manned the card store for 25 years.

They wrote a stinking letter to city council leader Simon Cook complaining about their “disgusting” treatment and the Kentish Gazette took up the case.

Council bosses have since agreed they would make an exception for the charity - as a “one-off”.

It is a small blessing for volunteers, who say there has been a sharp downturn in takings because of their new location.

Volunteer Pat King said: “We were very fortunate Paul Roberts & Associates offered us a temporary home for few weeks up to Christmas but are a bit off the beaten track and just aren’t having the footfall we used to and takings are down by about a third.”

“We appreciate there are rules and the officials who visited us were very apologetic and almost embarrassed..." - volunteer Janet Dalrymple

In her letter to Cllr Cook, she said: “I am writing to express my disgust that Canterbury City Council advised the Cards for Good Causes charity that it could not advertise in the street without planning permission.”

She said the council should show more compassion for the sake of those who benefit from the fundraising.

“We only have a couple of weeks left of trading and simply haven’t got the time or money to apply for planning permission or pay a fine,” she told the Gazette

Fellow volunteer Janet Dalrymple added: “We appreciate there are rules and the officials who visited us were very apologetic and almost embarrassed.

“But we hoped the council might make an exception because the shop is only open until December 22 and we have very little time to maximise sales.”

On Tuesday, the city council admitted it should have been more charitable.

Spokesman Rob Davies said: “We have a very clear approach to banners in the city centre to prevent them randomly popping up everywhere.

The Three Cities Garden is not one of the allocated sites and no permission was sought to place a banner there.

“We received a report that a banner had gone up and it was removed and returned to the shop.

“We’re clear that we have dealt with this issue entirely appropriately.

“Subsequently, a representative of the Cards for Good Causes contacted us, upset at what happened and asking us to reconsider, which we have done.

“Given that it’s Christmas, and that the charity is raising money for many incredible causes, we will be allowing them to put their banner back up in the Three Cities Garden as a one-off only for this year.

“As an extra festive gesture, we will also give them some free space in our poster frames at our three park and ride sites and the Castle Street multi-storey car park.”