A tearoom owner has labelled the council a ''Scrooge'' for saying he needs a licence for the tables he's using for his Christmas display.

Stephen Jackson, owner of Jacksonwood vintage tea rooms in Sheerness, claims Swale Borough Council sent him a letter demanding he removes his festive decorations.

The 62-year-old said: "I got a letter from the council saying I have to take away my display.

"I spent £200 of my own money making it nice for people only to be told I have got to remove it all.

"Well I’m not budging Scrooge, I got a real fight on my hands now as if life wasn’t difficult enough."

The grandad-of-four's display consists of a waist-height Santa Claus, a Christmas tree, and two outdoor tables with figurines on.

Swale council has said the tables outside his shop are the problem, not the decorations.

A spokesman said: "We’ve written to the occupier of Jacksonwood vintage tea rooms, to inform them that a pavement licence is needed to serve food and drink in the seating area in front of the shop.

“Any high street business with a seating area on the pavement is legally required to obtain a pavement licence under the Business and Planning Act 2020.

"Without an appropriate licence, food and drink cannot be served.

“We have requested that the seating area be removed until a licence has been obtained.”

Stephen, who's owned the business for four years before relocating to another part of the high street in 2022, said he understands this rule but it is not necessary in this situation as no food or drink is being served outside.

The dad-of-three said: "To be fair to them the council doesn't actually mention the tree or decorations by word in the letter, only removable street furniture, tables and chairs.

"However, the tables are part of my Christmas display, along with a Father Christmas and the A-board with decorations on it.

"The whole thing is a Christmas display, people can’t sit on the chairs around the tables.

"So I am now refusing to remove anything and waiting possible enforcement."

Stephen says the ''pretty scene'' he's created has helped business increase by 70%.

He said: "I, along with other shopkeepers, have had a bad last two years and I can’t understand Swale council's stance on this.

"I have explained to them that the tables are being used as decorations and no food or drink is being served on them but if they won’t come out to look then what can I do."

Stephen put the Christmas decorations up on November 30 and received the letter on December 2.

He added: "I would just like to point out to them that it has made me really sad indeed.

"My wife Amanda, who passed away four years ago, loved Christmas.

"We always made it special for our children and if she was with me now at this most difficult time she would have loved what I have done.

"It’s not just for me and my customers, but for the whole town to enjoy.

"I get immense pleasure from seeing the little kids' faces when they go by and seeing that the council have not bothered with a Christmas tree this year then I beg them to let me keep mine."

This isn't the first time Stephen has butt heads with the council.

In 2020 the grandad tried to open his cafe, which was previously located further down the High Street, too early.

He opened his doors to experiment his new socially-distanced tables – but a passer-by reported him to Swale council.

Mr Jackson was initially told putting tables on the pavement, despite the road being closed to traffic, was a breach of requirements at the time to control the spread of coronavirus and that he needed to "stop immediately."

At the time a council spokesman said the decision was not taken lightly.