Beware the dead plants in Santa’s sack

DEAD plants, diet books and festive socks are among the worst Christmas presents ever received, according to a poll.

One in three (34 per cent) said a dead plant was the worst gift they’d ever opened under the Christmas tree, with out-of-date chocolates in joint second (29 per cent).

Toilet paper was also named by 29 per cent, ill-fitting clothes by 23 per cent and a mop and bucket by 17 per cent. A quarter (26 per cent) had received awful perfume or aftershave, while 14 per cent got books they’d already read. Two-fifths of people admitted to throwing unwanted presents away after the event, while nine in ten said festive gift buying had gone too far, and we would be better off giving fewer presents.

Tessa Clarke, co-founder of the Olio app, which carried out the survey, said: ‘Our research clearly reveals we need to be more thoughtful with our Christmas shopping, not just for the sake of our friends and family, but for the sake of the planet.’