In pictures: Giant illuminated metal Christmas tree appears in Hastings town centre

The tree stands outside the former Debenhams building at the entrance to Robertson Street and replaces the real tree that has stood there in previous years.

The tree, which has colourful changing light sequences, was provided by the Levelling Up Fund with a smaller contribution from Hastings Borough Council.

It was designed and built locally on the Ponswood estate by a firm called Metalworx, who specialise in trussing fabrication.

John Bownas, from Love Hastings, said: “This project has been some months in the planning, and what can’t be denied is that it’s become an immediate talking point. “While it was going up and once we got the lights running last night the comments from passers by were almost all positive, but I can’t get away from the fact some chose to criticise it for not being traditional. “Of course, the simple answer to that is that Hastings is lucky to have two large town centre trees, and anyone wanting to see a natural one just has to pop around the corner to Priory Meadow. “I really do hope though that it does what it’s supposed to and attracts families to the town centre, because there’s never been a year where it’s been more important to spend time and money in local high street shops - of which Hastings is lucky to have loads that can help with making Christmas sparkle. “A really interesting fact is that when I first took the concept to the design engineer I asked for it to be 35ft tall - the same height as the natural tree the council used to have supplied. It wasn’t until I did the maths that I discovered that was almost exactly 1,066cm. Almost too much of a coincidence!”