Parents say Santa is hurting financially

FATHER Christmas is set to take the blame for this year's meagre delivery of presents under the tree, a poll of parents has revealed.

The survey of more than 1,000 mothers found 44 per cent will be telling their children Santa is tightening his belt this year, according to parenting website Netmums.com. Another five per cent said they were so financially stretched they would be shattering the myth completely and having a frank conversation with their children about the family budget.

However, many are ignoring the credit crunch, with 49 per cent saying they will do "whatever it takes" to make sure presents live up to children's expectations.

Netmums founder Siobhan Freegard said: "Of course we know many families are having to cut back this year, but we are urging mums not to feel guilty about this and, crucially, avoid the temptation to go into debt.

"Instead, why not use the credit crunch to remind ourselves that Christmas should be about magic, miracles and imagination and not about adding up the value of the contents of Santa's sack?"