Citizens in King Charles ' model town have been let down by its sparsely-lit community Christmas tree.
The tree reaches 30ft and should take pride of place in Queen Mother Square in Poundbury, nearby to Dorchester in Dorset.
However, locals were underwhelmed when the tree was decorated with just one string of solar-powered lights... and no baubles
As the recent weather has been overcast and grey, the solar-powered lights on the tree were only lit dimly.
Placed next to the Duchess of Cornwall pub - named after Camilla Parker Bowles - the tree is a sorry sight.
Harriet Moorby, 77, has lived in the area for years, and usually looks forward to the Christmas decorations - but not this year.
She said: "I'm just incredibly disappointed really.
"We waited for the lights to arrive and when they finally did it's just a single string of lights that you can barely see.
"When visitors are driving past Poundbury, the Queen Mother Square is clearly visible, and at the moment we're wasting a beautiful tree.
"I don't know why local schools weren't contacted to create decorations because that would have been lovely.
"We're all struggling financially this year, but it's important to pull together as a community. That would have been possible if we'd known in advance how poor the display would be."
Fellow resident, 67-year-old Tim Limbach, explained how disappointing it was that no nearby businesses had sponsored the tree.
He said he couldn't understand why the lights were solar-powered.
He said: "The Duchy of Cornwall is responsible for the tree and they have put up some lights but I wouldn't say it was decorated.
"The ones that are on the tree are solar powered, and because it has been so cloudy they barely light up on an evening.
"I tried to contact the nearby Waitrose to put some lights on it but they politely declined.
"As the centrepiece of the community, it is such a shame it looks so miserable."
Richard Filer posted on social media: "Has it got lights on it? Looks like the tree has just been stuck up and left!"
Edwina Iddles, a spokesperson for the Duchy of Cornwall estate, said: "Sadly there was a delay in the delivery of some of the lights for the tree.
"The lights have now been delivered and the tree will be fully decorated over the coming days."
Poundbury is King Charles' vision of a utopian idyll, where private and affordable housing mix with boutique shops, places of work, and services, like the local school and medical centre within walking distance.
Building work began in 1992 and it is due for completion in 2025. By then, it will have 2,500 homes and a population of 6,000.
