A protest against bankers accused of contributing to the collapse of hamper firm Farepak has been backed by an Oxford agent.

About 200 protesters demonstrated outside the Edinburgh headquarters of Halifax Bank of Scotland (HBoS) yesterday during the staff Christmas party.

Farepak agent Debra Sims, of Pegasus Road, Blackbird Leys, is still fighting to get back a £1,700 instalment paid into HBoS on behalf of about 20 customers on the day Farepak called in the administrators.

Protesters are demanding compensation from HBoS, which extended an overdraft to Farepak parent company European Home Retail then pulled the plug, leaving thousands without their Christmas savings.

Mrs Sims, who lost £900 herself, said: "The protest is a great idea. I think HBoS has a lot to answer for. They were the ones who kept lending money to European Home Retail - that is why Farepak went bust.

"I could never get my head round why they collapsed when we were all putting money in up front. Then we realised HBoS were giving our money to European Home Retail."

At least 32 Farepak customers from Oxfordshire lost more than £28,000 when administrators were called in two months ago.

The protest was organised by a group called Unfairpack, which is calling for compensation from the bank. HBoS has denied any blame in the collapse of the festive hamper firm.