The tree was meant to be the focal point of the yuletide decorations at Peterlee's Castle Dene Shopping Centre.
But it has been described as a "twig" by one disgruntled Peterlee councillor.
Do you agree with comments made by Peterlee councillor Joan Maslin or do you know of other Christmas decorations which fail to live up to expectations? Contact the newsdesk on (01429) 239280 or email mail.news@northeast-press.co.ukPassfield ward representative Joan Maslin is demanding it is taken down, and said: "Having nothing there would look a million times better than that embarrassment."
The tree was put up last month and decorated with coloured lights that were switched on by pop star Natasha Hamilton, from girl band Atomic Kitten, who also sang in front of the tree.
But shoppers have been left disheartened by its appearance.
One disgruntled passer-by said: "It's the worst Christmas tree in the country.
"I feel like buying some tinsel and decorating the tree myself."
Mike Weston, shopping centre manager, said he shares shoppers' embarrassment.
He said: "We ordered a standard Christmas tree from a supplier, and when this awful thing arrived it was too late to send it back before the switch-on with Natasha Hamilton.
"There was nothing we could do about it, so we were stuck with it."
Coun Maslin said she cannot walk through Peterlee town centre without shoppers complaining to her about the tree's appearance.
She said: "It's an insult to the residents of Peterlee. This town deserves better than that, it's an absolute atrocity.
"I would describe it as a post-Christmas tree, the kind that gets thrown into a skip in January because all that's left is twigs.
"Just imagine what this one will look like in January.
"Every time I see it I get depressed. With the credit crunch and everything going on people want cheering up but the tree just brings you down.
"Shoppers come up to me and say how horrified they are by it.
"It needs to be taken down and binned straight away."
