Parents have accused discount store Poundstretcher for 'promoting suicide', after they spotted 'obscene' children's Halloween bags featuring a man hanged from a tree.
On the 79p trick or treat bags, there's a scene showing a castle, graveyard, bats - and the figure of a corpse hanging from the tree's branch.
Poundstretcher has reportedly removed the bags from sale, acknowledging 'the sensitive nature and seriousness of the issue' in a message posted online.
21-year-old mum Beth Peterson, said it was 'very upsetting', as she has suffered from mental health problems in the past, and has since warned friends against buying the product for their own children.
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Mum-of-two Sam McAllister, 34, also said she bought the bag for her five-year-old daughter Chloe, who asked her what the sinister figure was doing. Horrified, Sam then removed it immediately.
Sam, who's from Rotherham in South Yorkshire, said: "Chloe said 'mummy, what's the man doing in the tree?'
"At first I laughed and then I thought, I can't explain that to her. I realised at that point how serious it was.
"I think it's absolutely atrocious that these are aimed at children with such graphic details.
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"I find it obscene that my daughter has even seen and had to question such a thing.
"Someone hanging themselves in a tree is suicide and there's no other way to explain that. I've never seen that before so I don't understand why it's there now.
"I just think it's inappropriate. Those bags are clearly for young children.
"In my eyes, for them to be removed and them to take a loss, I don't understand how that's been approved for an audience of such young children."
Sam claims that Poundstretcher has since told her the bags have been removed from sale 'with immediate effect'.
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Sam continued: "I was getting the Halloween outfits together for the little ones.
"They picked a little pretty witches costume out because they're only five and three, so they're not into all the gruesome outfits.
"Alongside that they both picked a treat or trick bag up - both were different.
"Luckily, Chloe's not spoken to me about the bag since and I've removed it now and got a different one.
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"It really is wrong. If I'm feeling uncomfortable about telling her the truth about that, it shouldn't be on it.
"Kids question everything naturally and it's planting a seed in their head. Children don't need to see that at five years old.
"I understand mental health is important to talk about with kids, but not that at the age of five.
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"Poundstretcher have come back to me and said 'Hi Sam, just to follow up on this. We have removed the trick or treat bag from sale with immediate effect. We completely understand the sensitive nature and seriousness of this issue and thank you for bringing it to our attention.'
"I don't understand why is associated with Halloween. Kids just think it's a day to dress up and go trick or treating.
"Where's the care for children who've been purchasing this who then see something like that?"
Beth, who has a three-month-old little girl, said she found the bag 'very upsetting' after attempting suicide five times herself.
Beth, from South Shields, Tyne and Wear, said: "My first words were 'what the f**k?'
"These aren't suitable for any age, especially with that guy hanging there.
"I've have had suicide attempts five times and it is horrendous. It was very upsetting.
"I still suffer with depression now and seeing that picture has made me angry.
"I have a 12-week-old baby. I'd be mortified if she was older and bought one of those.
"I've shown my best friend and she was horrified. I think quite a few parents have bought it and then realised it's dodgy.
"If the guy wasn't there, they'd be suitable for three-plus, but because of this it needs to be taken off the shelves completely.
"It's unbelievable."
Other parents have labelled the bag 'wrong' and 'shocking', and have called for it to be removed from shelves immediately.
Featured Image Credit: Kennedy News