With so much going on in the run-up to December 25, there is bound to be the odd Christmas calamity and Kent has seen its fair share to look back on with merriment.

In Maidstone, a plastic reindeer head had to be taken down from a shopping centre’s grotto after claims a six-year-old was traumatised by it.

Staff at The Mall, in Maidstone, removed the decoration after a complaint, when a mother contacted the centre suggesting her son was tramatised and asked her: “Did Santa kill his reindeer?”

She added: “I tried to move on quickly so he was not too scared and his Christmas reindeer beliefs weren’t crushed.”

Swift action was taken to remove the fixture.

Suzie Brindle, the centre’s marketing manager, said: “A member of the public contacted us via social media saying they had visited the grotto and felt part of the decoration was inappropriate.

“The decoration is a faux plastic deer head, part of the theme this year of a medieval castle.”

Another mum called on Asda to change the way it advertises its Christmas trees after finding one to be a shadow of its picture on the box.

Chloe Jones and her family bought a 5ft pre-lit tree from the supermarket in Broadstairs but, after adding the finishing touches to it at their house in Herne Bay, the family were left somewhat underwhelmed.

The disappointment, however, soon turned into hysterics and Mrs Jones, who is pregnant, said the laughter almost sent her into labour.

“I couldn’t see through the tears,” she said.

“On the box, the Christmas tree looks like one you would find stood proudly on display in a beautiful shop window.

“However, what you are actually getting is a Christmas tree that looks like it’s had a hard night on the town.

“I think it is safe to say maybe Asda should reconsider the photo they are using on the front of the box to save some disappointment.”

These examples from this year prompted us to look back through our archives.

In 2014, diners at the Harvester in Kennington were shocked to see a Christmas tree in August. A day after being reported on our KentOnline website it was taken down.

A year earlier, police were called to investigate what apparently was a man hanged from the neck at Rochester Castle.

Investigations revealed it was a decorative Santa to promote a fun run. A sign explaining this was installed.

Canterbury City Council was slammed for unveiling “Britain’s worst Christmas tree” in Herne Bay in 2012. With a measly string of lights, it was booed during the switch-on.

Its replacement didn’t fare much better. It was dubbed the “ugly twin”.

And, nationally, who can forget Gregg’s for apologising in the wake of a backlash when they replaced baby Jesus with a sausage roll as part of a Nativity-themed ad campaign.