Traders who shunned a late-night shopping event have been sent poison pen letters.

Shopkeepers in Hythe who decided not to open received fliers through their letter boxes with pictures of Scrooge on them. The fliers accused them of being mean and lacking Christmas spirit.

They said: “You have been selected as one of the town’s Scrooges. We hope next year you will support Christmas as other traders have done.”

One trader who received a flier said he was “very upset”.

The businessman, who did not want to be named, said: “It’s not very nice and it’s not in the Christmas spirit.

“It’s petty that someone has taken the time and trouble to do this.”

Kevin Howell, chairman of Hythe Chamber of Commerce, said around two thirds of traders stayed open late but those who hadn’t had targeted. He said: “The fliers have been home computer generated. It left me speechless that someone is that petty and vindictive.

“Not everyone can or wants to open late, you shouldn’t try to bully people into it.

“It’s very mean. Those who received the fliers were very upset and annoyed.”