THE poor takings of this year's Lions Club Christmas collection have been blamed on the "Scrooge-like" attitude of Waitrose which would not let the charitable group continue with its tradition of collecting outside the store.

Every Christmas, for more than 15 years, the Beaconsfield Lions Club has collected food and money from its log cabin, which it sets up outside the main entrance to Waitrose in Penn Road, Beaconsfield.

Its collection is used to buy food parcels for the elderly and those in need.

But when the group collected on Friday, December 9th and Saturday 10th, manager Paul Miller would not allow them to stand on Waitrose property meaning its takings are 50 per cent down, says the Lions.

They have had to set up camp near the neighbouring town hall a move which they say affected the takings as people had to go out of their way to make a donation.

Anthony Pickavance, 66, a Lions member from Sandelswood End, Beaconsfield, said: "This Scrooge-like attitude towards Christmas has had a big impact on the number of people who are not getting some luxuries over Christmas."

He added: "It's the first time in 20 years that we have been denied the opportunity of collecting on Waitrose property. We had to stand on land that's owned by the council."

Tom Aspinall, 65, the Lions president from Woodside Avenue, Beaconsfield, said: "I am extremely disappointed. It's a bit like old Scrooge."

But Mr Miller, who has managed the Waitrose store for seven years, has a different tale to tell.

He says his decision was not directed at the Lions but came after his customers told him that they feel uncomfortable walking past collectors.

He said: "From my point of view it is not acceptable for our customers to have to walk directly through that.

"Our customers are fantastically generous but over the years they have said to me that they feel uncomfortable having to walk past someone each and every week."

He added: "Every year we supplied canopied areas for the Lions, which, since our refurbishment, we have now built on.

"I know that the Lions Club collection is only two days a year but when you have, each and every week, groups that want to do things we just cannot keep on."

He added: "Waitrose gives lots of money to charity every week. As a branch, we help charities every single week."