Housing association tenants in the Bristol area have received a Christmas message from their landlord containing a 'veiled threat' of eviction.

Tenants at 250 homes were sent a leaflet from Jephson Housing Association warning them they could face the boot if they overspend during the festive period and can't pay their rent.

The message read: "Jingle Bells, Jingle Bells, Jingle all the way, please make sure you pay your rent, so in your home you'll stay."

The leaflet goes on: "We want you to enjoy the festive period, but even more than this we want you to continue to enjoy your home, please make sure payments are kept up to date.

"Wishing you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year from all the staff at Jephson's Bristol office."

The cards were sent to 650 homes in the South West owned by Jephson, which has 1,400 homes in Bristol and a regional office in Bradley Stoke.

Jephson, a registered social housing landlord, later sent out a letter of apology to tenants after realising the Christmas message was in 'bad taste'.

One tenant who lives at Jephson property: "This may look like a Christmas card but most people see it more as a veiled threat.

"It certainly isn't very Christmassy and the cards have been sent at just the time when people are doing their Christmas shopping for their families.

"It feels as if the landlord is telling us not to spend too much on Christmas so we can afford to pay them their rent. They are acting like Scrooge."

Another tenant, who lives in Willsbridge, told The Post: "I received a letter saying that if I received such information it was sent out by mistake and I should ignore it."

Spokesman for Jephson, Mark Thomas said: "It's fairly common for social landlords to remind people to prioritise their rent and basics such as heating and lighting with the competing pressures of Christmas.

"But we accept that the way it was done was not appropriate. We sent out the letters of apology because it was not in good taste."