Christmas Day has been ruined for some as they claim to have been let down by supermarket turkeys.

As people up and down the country prepare to put the traditional meat in the oven for the main meal of the day, some people have been shocked to find their birds off, or rotten. Others have said they feel let down, and now are desperately trying to save their family's lunch.

One customer took to X, formerly known as , to tell the supermarket their Christmas was ruined. They said: "Well done Sainsbury's @sainsburys Christmas is officially ruined! I've just got the turkey out of the fridge and it's rotten! It smells so bad I can't believe you could sell this? #christmasruined”

An image of an uncooked turkey, with an ominous looking blackening section, accompanied the post. The label, which shows it cost £14.36 and was supposed to serve seven people, was dated as to use by Friday, December 27.'

Karen from Sainsbury's was quick to reply and posted: “Hi There. Thanks for getting in touch. I'm sorry there's an issue with your turkey. Can you let me know If this was bought in store or online please? I'll look into this for you. Thanks, Karen.”

Another unhappy Sainsbury's customer posted a picture of his £13.10 bird, supposedly serving up to nine people, which also has a use by date of December 27. He posted: “@sainsburys thanks for ruining Christmas. Bought this turkey crown YESTERDAY from your Sury Basin store in Kingston Upon Thames. Straight home to our fridge. Opening tonight to prep for tomorrow and it has gone off. Did not smell good. Please tell me how you fix this for us.”

customers were also having issues. One poster said: “Turkey is off!! I guess it’s pizza. Hoping for a no quibble, full refund Day.” While a second added: “Looks like I’m guessing the cooking time of my @Tesco turkey today as their packs do not have exact weight or cooking time printed on front as normal.

“Back of pack says refer to front for cooking times..trying to weigh a turkey on small kitchen scales is fun! Merry Christmas!”

also had a problem with a customer claiming their medium turkey crown was “rancid” having bought it for £17.17 from a local Lidl branch on Friday. They posted: “Just a heads up as I'd hate for anyone open theirs up Christmas morning and there be no shops open selling turkeys. I've just gone to wash and marinate my turkey ready for Wednesday and it was fully RANCID inside! Smells awful and the meat had turned green!

“Bought fresh from Lidl Woodhouse Lane on Friday, dated 26th Dec and been stored at the back of my fridge since bought so there's absolutely no reason for it to be off. And there's me thinking buying fresh would be better than frozen this year.”