THE British Red Cross should rethink its "tragic mistake" in banning Jesus from its shops and instead, invest in other faiths, according to a Worcestershire MP.

The humanitarian aid agency, which has two shops in Worcester and six elsewhere in the county, has removed religious Christmas cards from its shelves and advent calendars showing Mary and Joseph or the three wise men, for fear of offending non-Christians.

Customers wanting to support the charity by buying Christmas cards with a religious message will have to settle for "Season's Greetings".

But as well as outraging leaders of minority faiths, who branded the move "absurd political correctness", it has led to MPs, including Tory MP for Mid-Worcestershire, Peter Luff, signing a House of Commons motion urging the organisation's chief executive Sir Nicholas Young, to reverse the ban.

"I fully respect the Red Cross's wish to be seen as neutral in war zones - and I know its cross refers to the Swiss Flag, not the Christian cross - but this decision is a tragic mistake," said Mr Luff.

"One that is likely to cause offence to people of all faiths.

"British Muslims, Hindus and Jews have no objection to the celebration of Christian festivals.

"Indeed, many people of other faiths choose to send their children to Christian church schools because they value the spiritual and moral basis on which those schools operate.

"They also want Britain to remain a country in which Christian values, which are largely shared with the other major faiths, are upheld."

But a Red Cross spokesman stood by the decision, saying its unique role, visiting prisoners of war and crossing front lines to tend to the wounded, whatever side they were on, depended on neutrality.

"That is why, during Christmas and any other religious festivals, we do not feature any overtly religious items, whether in our catalogues, our Christmas cards or on display in our shops," she said.

"Other international organisations and many major global corporations have similar policies of avoiding the use of overtly religious items in their work."

But Mr Luff disagreed, saying it was time for the organisation to expand its horizons.

"If the Red Cross wants to be neutral, they should do what many schools in Worcestershire now do and celebrate Christmas, Diwali, Hanukkah and Id," he said.

"There is a healthy market for cards to celebrate these other great faith festivals too, so that could even make more money for the Red Cross as well."