Not everyone has got into the Christmas spirit this year with some residents complaining the lights at the Crispin Inn in Sandwich are “offensive.”

Landlord Terry West took to social media to say that the Christmas Grinch was alive and well in the town. He explained that the town council had received two complaints about the decorations outside the pub in the High Street.

Mr West has also had half-a-dozen people complain about the lights being put up on the Grade II listed building. He said: “It’s four weeks of the year. It’s for the kids and it’s doing no harm.

“It’s Sandwich all over, this is. They will be down in a few days anyway. It’s just a bit of nonsense.

“Sandwich can’t afford to put a lot of lights up and someone donated them to us from Thanet Cars so I said I would put them up, for the kids.”

The lights feature Father Christmas being pulled along in his sleigh, as well as Mickey Mouse and a couple of Queen’s Guard-style soldiers.

“There’s nothing political up there,” he added. “I suppose they’re soldiers but they aren’t in military uniform.”

Many people took to Facebook to show their support for the lights and complain about the “bah humbug” attitude of others.

Mr West added: “I can’t see what the problem is. They’re quite bright and they do show up a lot – you could probably see them from space! – but the kids love them.”

The landlord has been told that one of those who complained vowed to get on to the council next year and stop the lights going up again. But he says he will put the lights up again next year.

Others also took to social media to offer their help with the Sandwich Lights Christmas Carnival Committee, which they did not realise was volunteer-run.

The committee needs more members to get the lights up round the town each year.