Bosses at a popular festive attraction have hit-out at customers after staff received verbal abuse.

Canterbury Christmas Market shared a post on social media after frustrated visitors lashed out at grotto workers.

It alleges parents used bad language in front of visiting youngsters and some have even screamed at team members.

The post relates to the Visit Santa Experience in the Marlowe Arcade, near Whitefriars Shopping Centre, which is popular with families.

All tickets for the event, priced at £7.50, had sold out for the grotto and punters were advised to keep checking the website for cancellations to arise.

"We will not tolerate verbal abuse to grotto staff," the post states.

"It's just not on and bad language is completely inappropriate in front of the children at the grotto. This has to stop!

"We completely understand that you don't want to let your children down, neither do we, but shouting and screaming at our team is totally unacceptable.

"We will no longer bow down to pressure of threats of bad social media reviews so that you get your own way.

"Please stop insisting we can just fit you in, we can't we are fully booked and the grotto team do not have access to all areas of the booking system."

It continues: "If you are late it is not the grotto team's fault, we have made it clear time and time again over our website and Facebook that we will not ruin the experience for the children that have arrived on time and we are booked up so cannot reschedule.

"If the group is still in the elf workshop then we will allow you to go through, but if the group is in with Santa, then we will not interrupt the magical moment for the other children.

'We will no longer bow down to pressure of threats of bad social media reviews so that you get your own way.'

"If you couldn't find us then you haven't read the details on the website or clicked on the Google Maps link on the website. This is not the grotto team's fault, please organise yourselves in advance.

"If you are late because you couldn't find us, it is not the grotto team's fault, please see the above two points.

"If you go to the wrong town it is not our fault. The grotto is on the Canterbury Christmas Market website, which means the grotto is in Canterbury. Please respect our team."