BASILDON Council has defended the town’s Christmas lights switch-on after they received a torrent of online criticism.

Residents complained of there being no stage and no fireworks at the annual switch-on event on Saturday.

Sarah Edlin, 43, of Basildon, said she was very disappointed with the event.

She added: “Having been for the last three years, my daughter and I have always enjoyed the light switch-on and the fireworks.

“This year we were confused when we got outside and saw all wooden buildings and a fake ice rink where the stage normally is.

“It was only when I heard faint singing in the background that I realised the walkway near where Pizza Hut used to be was being used as a stage.

“You couldn’t hear the people singing properly, the snow cannon was rubbish and when the countdown started everyone was facing the wrong way.

“Everyone was then waiting for fireworks that never came.

“It was very disappointing.”

Chris Reeves, of Canvey, 27, added: “I have been every year to Basildon’s lights as it is usually a really good atmosphere, but it wasn’t that good this year.

“The way the stage was set meant you couldn’t hear anything that was happening, it just sounded like mumbling. It seemed like it had all been chucked into a corner and forgotten about and there were no fireworks.”

But councillor Alan Ball, chairman of Basildon Council’s regeneration and environment committee, said the festivities had centred more on the free ice rink, booked by Basildon market, which is staying open until Christmas Eve.

The ice rink meant there was no room for a stage.

He added: “While feedback on the day was positive we have since been made aware that some residents were disappointed that we could not accommodate a one-off fireworks display at the event.

“The safety of our residents is paramount and unfortunately there was nowhere suitable for fireworks to be set off safely within full view of East Square. Instead a snow cannon went off at 5pm when the Christmas lights were turned on.”