Santa's Grotto elves left unpaid for Christmas work

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Santa Grotto workers across the country complained that they were not paid for their Christmas work.

Several artists said that money was still owed by Grotto Hire UK, owned by Agility Events, based in Hull.

Grotto Hire UK blamed the decline in sales and the company's "cash flow problems."

Director Tony Jennings said the company is "extremely grateful" to employees and that the issue will be resolved as soon as possible.

Shopping centers across the country contribute to the setup, with Grotto Hire UK responsible for grotto management and ticket sales.

Student Nathan Major, who worked at Hull's Princes Quay during Christmas, said that employees are owed to thousands.

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Workers were due to be paid Jan. 10 but found in an e-mail that the payment would be late "due to non-payment by shopping malls," he said.

Agility no longer has a website or page on Facebook, but Jennings issued a statement saying that Princes Quay is not to blame for late payments.

Anna, another Hull employee who is a homemaker, said she owed more than a thousand pounds for work in November and December.

She said working at Christmas had a big impact on her two young children, who missed her "terribly."

Mr. Major said it was "unbelievably unfair" that the team that worked so hard at Christmas is still waiting to get paid.

Philip McLellan, who worked at the grotto at Gloucester Quays, said he owed £ 2,000 while other officials said they were not paid until summer for the job they did on Christmas Day 2017.

Mr. Jennings, owner of Agility Events in Hull, said: "Our team did a great job over the Christmas period and we are extremely grateful to them.

"It is with deep regret that we face cash flow problems that have affected them."

Princes Quay said it was working with Grotto Hire UK to ensure the issue was being "resolved and resolved urgently."