Halloween party masks 'promote evil and fear', says bishop

Shops which sell Halloween merchandise have been accused by a leading churchman of trivialising evil and encouraging bad behaviour.

The Bishop of Bolton said retailers are helping to promote a "dark and negative" side of the festival and creating a "climate of fear".

The Rt Rev David Gillett is calling on the UK's five biggest supermarkets to stock alternative goods such as bright balloons and hair braids alongside their witch costumes and skeleton masks.

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He said: "I share the view of many Christians that large retailers are increasingly keen to commercialise Halloween celebrations in a way that pressurises parents to purchase goods that promote the dark, negative side of Halloween and could encourage anti-social behaviour.

"I am worried that Halloween has the potential to trivialise the realities of evil in the world and that occult practices should not be condoned, even if they are only being presented in a caricatured, lighthearted form." He added: "Those in the Church supporting this move towards a more positive approach to the event are not being killjoys, but are simply reflecting the concerns of many parents and teachers across the land."

He will display some of his alternative Halloween products today outside the Asda store in Hulme, Manchester.

An Asda spokesman said: "We are certainly not trying to trivialise evil or encourage bad behaviour. We are sorry the bishop feels this way but we are in business to sell the kinds of things our customers want to buy.

"Most people find Halloween fun. It is a fun time when where they dress up and have a party.

"If we can help them to do that, it is what we will do."