PayPal angers parents with Christmas ad that 'ruins Santa'

Money transfer site PayPal has found itself in hot water, after it was accused of ruining Christmas with its festive ad campaign.

The advert centres on a family with two young sons, who are growing increasingly concerned that they might end up with no Christmas presents this year.

They note that their parents haven't been out trawling the shops and that they haven't seen them arriving home with bags full of toys.

The parents, meanwhile, have been shopping online.

Come Christmas Day, the tree is surrounded by gifts and all is well.

But not so for PayPal, which has been accused of "ruining the magic of Christmas" by suggesting that parents have been 'assisting' Santa.

The Advertising Standards Agency said that it had received 233 complaints about the Paypal TV advert.

A spokesperson from the ASA said that the some viewers had found the advert offensive over the implication about Father Christmas.

Some Twitter users said it should be taken off air.

But the ASA said that no action was being taken against PayPal.