MPs have attempted to put the mockers on months of Christmas muzak in stores -- but have been been branded "miserable" by business bosses.

The constant playing of festive tunes in stores in the run up to the big day has hit a jarring note at Westminster.

More than 20 MPs -- including some from East Lancashire -- have complained about the fact you can't enter some big shops at the end of October without having your ears constantly assaulted by "Jingle Bells" or "Merry Christmas Everyone."

Pendle's Gordon Prentice and Hyndburn's Greg Pope have signed a Commons Early Day Motion which "notes the increasingly offensive playing of Christmas Music in shops and calls on all responsible retailers to limit it to December.''

But Raymond Goldstone, president of Blackburn and District Chamber of Commerce, said: "I think they are just being miserable. Traders are always working in front. Shoppers have a tendancy to neglect it all and leave their buying to the last minute so traders have to give them reminders."

Ribble Valley Tory Nigel Evans is not signing the motion -- which appears on the Commons Order Paper Parliament's daily agenda circulated to all Ministers, MPs and senior civil servants to raise awarenss of an issue -- but sympathises with his Labour colleagues.

Mr Pope, a practising Roman Catholic, said: "I really object to the commercialisation of Christmas."

"Don't get me wrong, I'm no Scrooge saying "Bah, Humbug'' I really like Christmas and Christmas Carols but I just don't see why every year the muzak and the decorations have to get earlier."