Santa sacked for taking mobile phone call in his grotto

"I had to answer my phone because I needed to sort my benefit payments out with the Jobcentre - because I was working as Santa.

"I told the kiddies not to worry because it was a call from Lapland about their toys, and that everything would be OK.

"With all the benefits cheats out there, you might have thought they would have given me a break.

"I was being honest and trying to do everything by the book.

"The children seemed to be fine with it, but not my employers. So much for the spirit of Christmas this year."

Mike, who has worked as Santa on many occasions, was employed at the Chelmsley Wood shopping centre grotto by employment agency NIDD last month.

He even appeared at the festive lights switch-on in Birmingham city centre on November 23 and took part in the Christmas parade through the city alongside reindeer, elves, snowmen and other Christmas characters.

"I loved working as Santa," he said. "I loved working with the children because it is such a magical time of year.

"I just don't understand why they took offence at me answering my phone.

"It did happen during the middle of a picture, with the child on my lap, but nobody seemed to mind - and nobody told me it was wrong.

"I only found out when I turned up at work the following day and was informed I was no longer needed."

Last night, Jim Sherwin, managing director of NIDD - an employment agency based in Leeds - defended his company's actions.

He said: "We employed Mr O'Donagh on behalf of another promotions company on a temporary basis.

"So we were well within our rights to let him go.

"We weren't on site but we were informed that there have been a number of occasions on which Mr O'Donagh answered his phone and was late, which meant we were not happy with the level of service he was providing.

"We wanted to ensure we got the position filled with someone who could do the job properly."

l Last month Santa Andrew Mondia, 32, was sacked by Selfridges in London - because he asked a granny to sit on his lap.

Store bosses said Santas must certainly not "promote or proactively seek" anyone to do so.

Andrew said his one-day training was "a bit rushed", adding: "I was just being my innocent usual self. I was shocked when they told me - I couldn't believe I've been sacked for being too friendly."

And last year 70 year-old Santa John Oakes was sacked from a Australian department store for saying "Ho, ho, ho" and singing Christmas carols.

Retired entertainer John was fired from his job at the Myer store in Cairns for his rendition of Santa's famous laugh.

His employer Westaff ordered its Santas to say "ha, ha, ha" instead of "ho, ho, ho" because it could be derogatory to women. The word "ho" is also American slang for a whore.