Parents 'shocked' after kids soft play centre uses realistic 'body bags' as Halloween decorations

A play centre has apologised over using realistic "body bags" for decorations after concerns from "shocked" parents.

Pictures taken on Sunday at the Rugrats and Halfpints centre in Cirencester, , showed the decorations resembling human bodies covered in black plastic hanging upside down from poles adjoining one of the structures at the soft play area. Some of the decorations were seen wrapped with tape marked "Caution" and "Danger".

But the "realistic" décor at the centre - which caters for children aged 0-12 - left some parents concerned, with one mother saying she did a "double take" when she saw the hanging bags. The mother, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said: "I went inside with my daughter.

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"The body bags were at the back which can't be seen from the café area, only by kids inside. 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. 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!"

A Rugrats and Halfpints spokesperson told : "This is the first time someone has brought it to our attention so of course due to this we will take them down immediately. It wasn't to cause distress and we apologise this is how they have felt."

The centre, Winner of the Travellers Choice Award 2022, says on its website 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”. It adds: "In essence, Rugrats and Half Pints is the soft play centre you have been waiting for."

The news comes after a mum claimed she was forced to tear down her body bag after killjoy 'Karen' neighbours complained about the life-sized props swinging from a tree.

Caroline Ashley was stunned when a worker reportedly rang her doorbell demanding she remove the offending decorations. The 41-year-old says the council visit followed a 'really upset' local who banged on her door to say she was 'triggered' by the display.

As the two inflatables were hanging from a tree on a patch of and not her own land, Caroline says she was obliged and took them down. The hospitality worker said she was initially baffled by the request as her own kids 'aren't scared' of them.

The mum-of-two said the council worker returned the following day to check the decorations had been taken down, and requested they be moved onto her property. Caroline asked a group of 300,000 members if the body bags were too much?