No masking Halloween fears

Terrifying Halloween masks and satanic costumes have come under fire as promoting anti-social behaviour and petty crime.

Stores have defended the consumer's right to choose after a Church of England Bishop campaigned to rebrand Halloween as a triumph of good over evil.

But while supermarkets are stressing the fun side of the event, some are still selling horrible-looking goods. Both Sainsbury's and Asda agreed to Bishop of Bolton the Rt Rev David Gillett's request to tone down their merchandise.

They have vowed to stock less sinister masks and costumes this year.Andy Bond, president and chief executive of Asda, said it would put costumes and accessories with a lighter feel on its shelves, while Sainsbury's wrote to the bishop saying it will now also sell glow sticks, hair braids and face paints.

But concerned mum-of-two, Diane Davies, from Hednesford, says frightening masks should not be so readily available.

She said: "When trick or treaters come round in them, they terrify my children.

"Gemma's four and Ryan is seven and it can make them feel scared. The masks are so cheap, anyone can get one.

"They can also help criminals commit crimes without being identified, especially if they are wearing a hood."

Despite such fears, Halloween concessions at supermarkets and high street stores around the region are still dominated by creepy, gruesome and devil-related merchandise.

Mum Kelly Price, aged 18, disagrees with the Bishop and thinks scary things are what is fun about Halloween.

The Oxley resident's daughter, 11-month-old Elle-May, looked a bit disturbed by an eyeball popping Asda mask but didn't scream or cry.

Kelly said: "I don't think they should have to tone down scary merchandise. The whole thing about Halloween being fun is scary things." A spokesman for Sainsbury's said: "We talked to our customers who told us that they wanted choice and variety, spooky as well as fun products."

By Nick Pritchard