Tesco withdraws horror colouring book
- Published
The 16-page colouring book features images from a number of horror films and thrillers
Tesco has withdrawn from sale on its website a colouring book that depicts gory scenes from horror films.
Colour Me Good Arrggghhhh!! features images from Psycho and Hellraiser, among other films, and was marketed online at children aged five to eight.
Tesco said the book had been placed in the wrong category when listed on its website by a third-party seller.
Publisher I Love Mel said the book, which had been offered for sale by one of its stockists, was aimed at adults.
The 16-page colouring book features on its cover an image of actress Janet Leigh screaming as she is stabbed to death in Psycho's infamous shower scene.
There are pictures inside from The Silence of the Lambs, A Nightmare on Elm Street, Jaws, A Clockwork Orange, The Shining and Fatal Attraction.
Other colouring books by East Sussex-based author Mel Elliott feature the supermodels Kate Moss and Cara Delevingne and album covers.
'Playful grown-ups'
Ms Elliott said: "My products are pop culture-inspired and aimed at playful grown-ups. They are not aimed at kids.
A scene from Fatal Attraction is on the back cover
"They are usually sold to grown-ups in fashion shops and book stores."
The Royal College of Art graduate said she had been unaware that the stockist of the book had placed it on sale through Tesco's website.
The site allows third-party sales via its Sellers at Tesco online marketplace.
A spokesman for Tesco said: "We have very clear guidelines for third-party sellers who list items on our website, and are sorry that on this occasion they weren't followed.
"We have spoken to the seller to remind them of the importance of selecting the right category when listing products with us.
"Of course, when issues do arise we act quickly to ensure that the item is updated with the correct information."
The third-party seller was online retailer Prezzybox.
The company, based in Austrey, Warwickshire, said it normally listed the book as something that "may not be suitable for people under the age of 16".
Prezzybox managing director Zak Edwards said the product had been on Tesco's website for about two to three months before the "administrative error" was apparently spotted by a man from Derby searching for a birthday present for his seven-year-old grandson.
"It was an honest mistake on our part," said Mr Edwards. "It was categorised as a colouring book and then, unfortunately, as being suitable for children."