Just in time for Christmas comes a new survey that has found 27 per cent of people are tired of fat, jolly, white Santa and would prefer him to be female or gender neutral.

Logo design company GraphicSprings thought that traditional Santa needed a 2018 makeover and questioned 400 of its customers in the UK and US to determine what Mr Clause would look like if given a modern spruce.

According to the results, any new-look Santa would be more “metrosexual” with tattoos, a more trimmed beard, he’d be wearing skinny jeans, sneakers and he’d get about on a hoverboard instead of a sleigh.

Some 11 per cent of respondents said Santa should be female, with 17 per cent saying he should be gender neutral.

However, 72 per cent believed that Santa should remain male.

Social media reaction to the survey showed most people weren’t in favour of Santa undergoing any significant change.

“Santa isn’t real. Thinking Santa should be female or gender neutral is no more moronic than thinking he should be male,” tweeted one.

Another added: “I’m all for equality but the idea that we should make Santa gender neutral or female is ridiculous! You cannot change history – St Nicholas, the guy who started the whole stocking hanging thing was a man!! #Christmas.”

While a third chimed in: “Absolutely not, it’s a fat guy in a red suit with a red hat and white beard, carrying a massive sack full of toys and a guy who gets stuck up chimneys. End of discussion!”

“Are people seriously questioning if Santa should be gender neutral?” asked another non-fan.