Under-fire funeral boss apologises to mourners for displaying macabre Halloween decorations in window of undertakers as parlours are slammed for ‘offensive’ exhibit

• Have YOU seen similar displays in funeral parlours? Email [email protected] 

A funeral parlour has apologised to mourners for displaying macabre Halloween decorations in its window. 

Fake cobwebs and themed bunting were used to decorate the shopfront of Clive Hopkinson Funeral Directors in Worksop, Nottinghamshire for October 31. 

After spotting the display, one resident posted a picture of it on social media and questioned whether Halloween decorations in funeral parlours were appropriate.

Have YOU seen similar displays in funeral parlours? Email [email protected] 

The funeral directors said its seasonal window displays aim to ‘demonstrate its commitment to the local community’. It has since apologised and removed the display.

This is not the first funeral parlour to come under fire for celebrating the spooky occasion, after Francis Chappell & Sons was branded ‘tasteless’ for featuring a skeleton, bloody handprints and a gravestone at its branch in Sydenham, south-east London.

Fake cobwebs and themed bunting were used to decorate the shopfront of Clive Hopkinson Funeral Directors in Worksop, Nottinghamshire for Halloween

Window display featuring a skeleton, bloody handprints and a gravestone. Pictured: Francis Chappell & Sons Funeral Directors shopfront in Sydenham

The display in south-east London has seemingly sparked fury among passerbys with one alleging the decor was ‘shocking’ and inconsiderate to those whose relatives just died. 

READ MORE: Halloween decorations spark backlash for being ‘too realistic’ – with people saying they’d call 999 if they saw them 

The funeral home created a makeshift graveyard in the front window which can been seen from the outside pavement. It shows skeleton bones scattered across a grave, bloody hand prints, cob webs and a smiling ghost statue can also be seen through the window.  

Someone who witnessed the display told MailOnline they were ‘pretty shocked’ by what they saw.

‘How tasteless. It’s absolutely not the kind of décor people who have just lost their loved ones want to be greeted with,’ the individual said.

‘I get that it’s Halloween, but bloody handprints and a skeleton next to a real gravestone – that they presumably sell – is just a bit shocking.’

It is not clear how long the Halloween decorations were displayed in the shopfront in Worksop, but a photo posted to social media October 19 suggests they have been up for almost two weeks.

A spokesperson for Dignity Plc, which owns the Worksop branch, said: ‘Our seasonal window displays are intended to demonstrate our commitment to the local community and support for charities and national events. 

The display has seemingly sparked fury among passerbys with one alleging the decor was ‘shocking’ and ‘tasteless’. Pictured: Francis Chappell & Sons Funeral Directors shopfront in Sydenham

The kitschy display, which can been seen from the outside pavement, shows skeleton bones scattered across a grave. Bloody hand prints, cob webs and a smiling ghost statue can also be seen through the window

‘We accept that Halloween themed displays at a small number of our premises were misjudged and not appropriate.

‘We are deeply sorry if this offended any passers-by and the displays have now been removed.’

There are five additional branches under the name Clive Hopkinson Funeral Directors across the UK in Old Whittington, Clowne, Clay Cross, Stonegravels, and Birmington. 

MailOnline approached Francis Chappell & Sons Funeral Directors for comment. 

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