A Christian charity has criticised the banking giant Barclays for using 'Bank Holiday' rather than 'Christmas' in its seasonal opening times.

Signs for Barclays opening times over the festive period make no mention of Christmas Day or Boxing Day.

In comparison Natwest, Halifax and Lloyds all refer to Christmas in their opening times.

Colin Hart, from the Christian Institute, told the Daily Telegraph: "Barclays Bank shouldn't be ashamed of Britain's Christian heritage.

"It should reverse this politically correct mad decision as no one is offended by using terms like Christmas or Easter."

Some people agreed with his view on Twitter:

now Barclays are pandering to non Christians & cancelling Christmas

— mar45 (@mar45) December 11, 2015

Barclays Bank: hard to believe that this UK bank is calling Christmas the C-word! Get real you're in a Christian country ! #PC gone mad

— Londoner (@Londoner2009) December 12, 2015

However others feel the omission of the word is being highlighted for the wrong reasons:

Barclays, the bank that won't recognise Christmas https://t.co/martcz6YY9 'Stories'like this run just to stir up hatred. Shameful.

— Sheraz (@sheraz_dar) December 12, 2015

Barclays said in a statement: "Traditionally we refer to any working day that we are closed as a bank holiday, but we have no intention to stop referring to Christmas.

"Various activities are taking place in local Barclays branches in the run-up to Christmas."