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A priest told pupils as young as five a festive tale about butchered children being sold as ham.

Rev Simon Tatton-Brown, 65, also suggested Father Christmas is not real when he told the story of St Nicholas, who brought the children back to life after their bloodied corpses were stuffed into barrels.

Furious parents of pupils at Charter primary school in Chippenham, Wilts, have threatened to boycott his carol service in protest.

The vicar, who retires next month, said: “I got it wrong.”

He said he’d had to abandon his prepared talk because of a ‘technical glitch’ and delivered his speech without notes to read from.

The vicar said Father Christmas was also rumoured to have dropped a gift down a poor family’s chimney, but it landed in a stocking hung up to dry by the fire.

Horrified parents said the talk would give their children nightmares and make them start to disbelieve in the magic of Father Christmas and his reindeer.

Canon Tatton-Brown, 65, said “I didn’t intend to upset anyone or to dispel children’s beliefs in Santa Claus, but I accept I was wrong.”

He said “I understand that they’re disappointed.

“I got it wrong. It wasn’t intentional. I can’t undo it.”

He said his biggest concern was the children’s Christmas being spoilt.

Thankfully youngsters in the reception class, aged four, were not part of the assembly.

The vicar has now written to the headteacher, Sarah Flack, to apologise.

His letter reads “I was very sorry to hear of the trouble following my assembly on Wednesday.

“I talked about St Nicholas, and the stories about him, which tell us why Santa Claus brings gifts at Christmas.

“I am sorry if this was misunderstood.

“I fully support parents who want their young children to enjoy the Christmas stories, including Father Christmas, and I had no intention of undermining their belief in the reality of Santa Claus.”

Mrs Flack said she accepted his apology.

She said children had ‘made comments’ to their parents at home after hearing the vicar’s talk but the school was ‘looking forward to moving on’ and would still be using St Andrew’s for their carol service and would welcome a new vicar at next year’s Christmas assembly.