Residents living in a block of retirement flats say they have been left "disgusted" after their housing association removed Christmas lights from a hedge outside.

Irene Swan put up the small string of battery-operated fairy lights at the front of Hanover Court in Gladstone Road, Broadstairs, to lift people's spirits and bring some festive cheer.

But the 77-year-old says within half-an-hour Anchor, which runs the retirement accommodation, called her neighbour to say they needed to be taken down.

"She said we'd be charged for the removal of the lights if we didn't," said Mrs Swan.

"They were about a metre--and-a-half long, with batteries, and they weren't in the communal area but the hedge outside.

"The whole road is full of lights on people's houses - next door's has lights all over their hedge - so we weren't doing anything different.

"I was told it's because one of the residents here complained."

Mrs Swan says she left the lights there but the next day a handy man came to remove them.

"We think it's disgusting behaviour," she said.

"To remove the lights because of one complaint when the whole road is filled with lights, it's pathetic."

A spokesperson for Anchor, said: “Festivals and celebrations are held throughout the year at our locations and we’re keen to support residents to makes their homes look festive.

“Whilst the communal areas of locations are not extensions of residents’ homes, we recognise residents may wish to decorate these areas as part of their celebrations. To enable this, we have clear guidance in place which states that residents should consult the location manager and consider the needs of all the residents at the location before introducing any decorations into communal areas.

“We will speak with the residents involved and continue to encourage all residents to follow the guidance on the use of communal areas to ensure all residents continue to enjoy the use of these spaces.”

In a similar situation in Canterbury, people living in Joseph Conrad House were told to take Christmas wreaths down from their doors or face a costly bill for removal.