An events company has cancelled all its Christmas parties booked for December.

The Venue Experience, a Banbury-based entertainment company, was to host Christmas parties in a marquee in the grounds of Eynsham Hall, North Leigh.

The marquee, which can hold up to 1,000 people, was booked by local companies for their festive parties.

The company has now cancelled all the events citing licensing difficulties - but staff at West Oxfordshire District Council say they are not aware of any problems.

Cooper Construction, of Witney, booked for 50 people to attend at £50 per head, but with just a week to go the company was told its party, due to be held last Friday, was cancelled.

Company spokeswoman Sally Cooper said: "Everyone was so looking forward to the party. There was going to be a chocolate fountain and a casino, it sounded fantastic. Everyone was talking about it. I had sent them a £750 deposit cheque.

"Then I had a letter telling me it was cancelled and I had the aggro of having to find a new venue at the last minute. Why go selling tickets for something when you haven't crossed all the t's and dotted the i's?"

Vicon Motion Systems, of West Way, Oxford, booked a party for 100 people.

Software developer Iain Charlton said: "We were let down like everybody else. We had to find a new venue. It gave me a couple of days of stress but we have a new place organised now.

"I don't have any hard feelings towards them really. I don't blame them if they couldn't get a licence.

"It could bankrupt a small company having to cancel like that."

A spokesman for The Venue Experience said: "We have worked tirelessly trying to resolve the problems and licensing issues associated with trying to relocate the party to a new site and save the project.

"All clients have received a letter informing them of the decision and full reimbursement of any deposits.

"Wherever possible, we have also assisted in finding alternative venues for clients.

"We can assure you that this has not been a decision the company has taken lightly and are fully aware that we have disappointed and inconvenienced clients. For this we apologise most sincerely."

Staff at Eynsham Hall refused to comment.

Bill Oddy, head of the district council's community services, said: "We are not aware that this is a licensing issue."