Walmart apologises over festive jumper showing Father Christmas with cocaine

Walmart has apologised for selling a seasonal jumper featuring images of Father Christmas and cocaine.

The jumper depicted a deranged-looking Father Christmas, three lines of a white substance, and the words "Let it snow".

A description accompanying the gift said: "We all know how snow works. It’s white, powdery and the best snow comes straight from South America.

"That’s bad news for jolly old St. Nick, who lives far away in the North Pole. That’s why Santa really likes to savour the moment when he gets his hands on some quality, grade A, Colombian snow."

The description added: "It's exactly what he [Father Christmas] needs to get inspired for Christmas Eve. It's also warm and comfy so you can wear it any time the snow starts blowing this holiday season."

Walmart discontinued sales of the jumpers, which were made by a separate clothing company.

It said they had been offered for sale by a third party on its Canadian website.

A Walmart spokesman said: "These sweaters do not represent Walmart’s values and have no place on our website.

"We have removed these products from our marketplace. We apologise for any unintended offence this may have caused."

It followed a backlash in social media with many shocked by the jumper, and other similar ones which were also offered for sale on Walmart's Canadian website.

Earlier this month, Amazon withdrew from sale Christmas ornaments that featured images of Auschwitz.

The Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum condemned the sale of the items, which also included mousepads and bottle openers, as "disturbing and disrespectful."

Those objects were also being sold by a third party. At the time an Amazon spokesman said: "All sellers must follow our selling guidelines and those who do not will be subject to action, including potential removal of their account. The products in question have been removed."