Parents shocked after body bag decorations used in kids play centre

A children's soft play centre has apologised after displaying realistic body bag Halloween decorations that left parents shocked.

Rugrats and Halfpints in Cirencester, Gloucestershire, have now removed the disturbing bags following several complaints.

Images of the decorations show black bin bags tied up to resemble human bodies, while they hang upside down from poles behind the play area netting.

Some of the makeshift body bags were wrapped with tape marked Caution and 'Danger' in an effort to make them appear more authentic.

One horrified mother who saw the decorations told Sky News: 'When I saw them I did a double take - surely that can't be what I think it is? I just didn't want to have to explain to my kid what they were'.

She revealed the body bags were located at the back of the soft play, which can not be seen from the cafe - and therefore only by the children inside.

'I spoke to some other parents after who were as shocked as I was that it was deemed appropriate. It's a great soft play, but that did shock me a bit,' she added.

A spokesperson for the centre told Sky News: 'This is the first time someone has brought it to our attention so of course due to this we will take them down immediately. 

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'It wasn't to cause distress and we apologise this is how they have felt'. 

Rugrats and Halfpints website claims it is 'committed to providing a safe, clean and stimulating environment, with the emphasis on fun', with prices ranging from £5.75 up to £11.75 per child.

It offers parents 'a variety of different play areas and entertainment for your kids to get stuck in while you can enjoy our on-site cafe'. 

'Winner of the Travellers Choice Award 2022, Rugrats is committed to providing a safe, clean and stimulating environment, with the emphasis on fun,' it says.

'In essence, Rugrats and Half Pints is the soft play centre you have been waiting for.'

It comes after a mother claimed she was forced to tear down her Halloween decorations after one neighbour's complaint triggered a visit from the council.

Caroline Ashley was stunned when a Liverpool Council worker allegedly rang her doorbell on September 24 demanding she remove the decorations - which were of two bodybags - from a tree in front of her house. 

As the two inflatables were hanging from a tree on a patch of council-owned land in front of her property and not her own land, Ms Ashley she was obliged to take them down. 

She had originally placed some of the decorations on the grass under the tree but later decided to hang the body bags, which led to the council's visit.

'I took the stuff from the tree down and left the [other] stuff in the grass, and the following day they came round to check,' she added. 

Ms Ashley shared her dilemma in a Facebook group of 300,000 members asking 'are the body bags too much?' where it went viral racking up more than 3,700 likes, shares and comments.

Most people praised her spooky display and urged her to up the ante by adding blood.

A Liverpool City Council spokesman confirmed that a complaint was received and acted upon.