Christmas is traditionally a time for giving. Unless, that is, you happen to be one of Brighton and Hove's Labour councillors. Then it's a time for taking.

This week, Hove Citizens' Advice Bureau closed as a five-days-a-week service. Brighton and Hove City Council has simply taken away its grant.

Many of the CAB's clients need more than Christmas cheer. They are desperate for advice. Now they won't get it.

Labour's stingy Santas turned down a Liberal Democrat move to switch £194,000 from councillors' allowances into community grants. That would have saved Hove CAB and other voluntary organisations now facing an uncertain New Year.

If Labour's council leader Ken Bodfish was Father Christmas, Rudolph would be organising a protest march.

-Peter Bartram, Tivioli Road, Brighton