Ananova:

Harrods have sacked a Father Christmas who made 'inappropriate' remarks to customers.

The former employee worked at Father Christmas World at the flagship store in London's Knightsbridge.

His seasonal contract was terminated after complaints from visitors, reports the Sun Online.

The Santa had reportedly asked an Asian family: "What are you doing here - shouldn't you be in Tesco?"

And he allegedly invited the same family's teenage girl to sit on his knee.

A Harrods spokesman denied the Father Christmas had been racially abusive but admitted he made 'inappropriate' comments.

The store said in a statement: "We were able to identify the individual in question and having investigated the complaint thoroughly we terminated his seasonal contract.

"There is no excuse for causing any level of complaint amongst our customers - and even if the remarks were made in good humour, we cannot condone behaviour that offends our customers.

"It's also very sad that these incidents may ruin the enchantment of the grotto for our younger customers who still hold dear the fantasy that there is only one Father Christmas."