Gower pub landlady's tears over angry Halloween letter

The Royal Oak in Penclawdd says it has had no previous complaints over its previous nine years of Halloween displays

A pub landlady says she was left in tears after an anonymous letter demanded that she take down her Halloween decorations.

It asked: "With all the cruelty and atrocities going on in the world why would you want to put such horrific things outside your pub?"

Heather Skipper said she had had no previous complaints at the Royal Oak on the Gower peninsula in Swansea county.

But locals in Penclawdd rallied around and even offered extra decorations.

Written in block capitals, the letter was sent second class and arrived last Thursday.

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It also said: "Penclawdd residents do not want that. We are better than that."

Ms Skipper said it made her feel like "everyone was against me" and left a "bitter taste in my mouth".

The Royal Oak in full Halloween mood - and the letter demanding that it stop

She said she wished the writer had just spoken to her - or even signed the letter.

It so upset her that she started to take the decorations down until one of her staff members stopped her, saying the village had always loved the decorations and they had had no other complaints in the previous nine years celebrating Halloween.

Her daughter put the letter on Facebook, which led to local people offering their support.

This even included a large inflatable cemetery. But she decided not to take up that offer as she "didn't want to aggravate anyone" and just "wanted to do her own thing".

Heather Skipper says she decorates for all seasons, and not just Halloween

She described the community's support as "unbelievable" and having moved her to tears.

For Halloween night the pub will throw a party to which children are invited. "Halloween is all about the children and them making memories," the landlady said.

The experience has not put her off celebrations of other events.

"In a month the mannequins will be back out and in Christmas theme, and the snow machine will be going," she said.