The worst Christmas presents revealed, including sanitary towels and out-of-date gift vouchers

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To say that Christmas gifts can be somewhat of a gamble is a fairly large understatement.

While some are heartfelt, thoughtful and hit the mark, with others it’s evident that they’ve been whisked off the shelves in a last-minute frenzy.

How much would you appreciate receiving a box of sanitary towels, or a gift voucher that’s expired? Probably not very much, we’re guessing.

A new survey conducted by consumer services company Which? has revealed some of the worst presents that people have ever received for Christmas. The responses are bound to make you feel far more grateful for this year’s haul.

1,373 members of the public were questioned for the Which? Connect survey.

In addition to sanitary products and out-of-date gift vouchers, the disappointing gifts mentioned also included a pineapple cutting machine, a hand-knitted willy warmer, a book about drainpipes and a stuffed mouse dressed in a Victorian costume.

Some of the answers also demonstrated the sheer lack of thought that can go into Christmas presents when buying with a certain individual in mind.

These inconsiderate gifts included a box of chocolates given to a diabetic, aftershave bought for a person with a beard and a bottle of champagne presented to a non-drinker.

While it can be disheartening to receive presents that have obviously been bought without much thought, some Britons promptly take action following the festive period, seeking refunds or even asking for replacements.

Another study commissioned by Which? and carried out by Populus asked 2,095 people in the UK to describe how they felt about the presents that they received last year for Christmas.

A quarter of the people who had received gifts said that they had been given at least one that they weren’t happy with.

A third of those who were given presents that they were disappointed with said that they re-gifted them to someone else, and a quarter said that they donated the presents to a charity shop.

Londoners were the most likely to ask for a replacement present, while 10 per cent of all of those questioned said that they had decided to sell their unwanted presents online.

Millennials were the age group most likely to feel despondent about the presents that they received on Christmas, with 37 per cent of those aged between 25 and 34 saying so in comparison to 31 per cent of those aged between 18 and 24.

Only one in five participants aged 55 and over said that they received a gift last year that they weren’t happy with.