A BELEAGUERED police chief constable has sent out a Christmas card which displays a lighter side to her character.

But the festive message has not tickled everybody's funny bone, with one MP describing the card as inappropriate.

North Yorkshire chief Della Cannings sent out the cartoon featuring a red-faced version of herself in Santa's sleigh, which has crashed into a tree outside force headquarters at Newby Wiske Hall, near Northallerton.

Santa, looking a little worse for wear, is standing beside the sleigh and pointing at the chief constable as a traffic policeman asks: "Right! Who was driving?"

Sent to police and business contacts, the card also shows three dazed reindeer and a scattered bag of presents.

The greeting comes at the end of a difficult few months for Ms Cannings and North Yorkshire Police Authority.

In August, she reversed a decision to name a new police building Cannings Court following criticism from members of the Police Federation and last month it emerged that refurbishing her en-suite shower at Newby Wiske cost £24,000.

Harrogate and Knaresborough MP Phil Willis said the card should have promoted a more positive message.

He said: "I do think it's inappropriate at this time when the chief constable is embroiled in controversies about the shower, police buildings and so much else.

"What would have been better would be a recognition of the fact that North Yorkshire Police is one of the best forces in the country. I don't think there should have been any image of the chief constable at all on the card."

However, Baroness Angela Harris, who is a former chairman of the police authority, said the card was a good idea.

She said: "It would be a typical sort of message from the chief constable. She enjoys a joke and I have no problem whatsoever with whatever Christmas card she sends round. I just hope I am a recipient."

A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said: "The cartoon featured on the front of this year's card is a self-deprecating and light-hearted representation of the chief constable, similar to other such illustrations which are available commercially.