BBC blows £120,000 on staff's Xmas bash

A free-flowing bar and party food were laid on at the event in a marquee in Battersea Park last night, to which 4,000 BBC Vision staff were invited.

It was a slap in the face to the 2,800 workers being laid off as part of director general Mark Thompson's aim to recoup a £2.5bn budget shortfall.

A BBC spokeswoman said: "While we are very sensitive to the current situation, we still feel it is acceptable to put on a moderately priced event to thank staff for their hard work. The Vision Christmas party is in line with the BBC's policy on Christmas parties and the organisers have ensured best value for money."

She added that the amount allowed for Christmas entertainment for BBC staff - not exceeding £50 per head - is a third of the maximum allowed by the Inland Revenue.

The budget crisis at the BBC has also caused the quality of its television entertainment to deteriorate, say viewers.

The corporation has cut the number of programmes it makes, which sparked complaints from the public, who said it had fewer fresh and original shows than ever before.

Its research has revealed the public harks back to a past in which BBC1 and BBC2 were the home of quality television.

Nowadays, the BBC is increasingly dominated by entertainment, celebrity, reality shows and soaps, say viewers.