Locals have hit out at a "distasteful" window display in which a "huge" coffin is laid out to be seen by shoppers as they pass by.

One resident said the wooden casket on display in a funeral directors in Goole, Yorkshire, "lacks decorum" and that she avoids walking past.

The coffin is on display at the front of Casseldens Funeral Services.

The undertakers only opened its doors in January and has defended its decision to put up the controversial display, likening it to what other shops do at Halloween .

The woman, 74, who was using another shop in the busy street when she first saw the casket, described how others had also complained about its appearance and was planning to go in to make a complaint.

(Image: Hull Daily Mail / MEN Media)

She said: “I parked my car up to go to another shop and as soon as I got out I was confronted with this huge coffin with a wreath on top right at eye level in front of the window.

“It just lacks decorum and even my grandson asked me what it was. I don’t think it’s right.

"There are a lot of old people in Goole – my husband has just got over pancreatic cancer and he would not want to see that.

“Everyone is talking about it in the street and I just think it’s disgusting. There is no taste, no decorum and I wouldn’t like to walk past it.

“It lacks class and there isn’t only me complaining.”

A Casseldens spokeswoman said they shouldn't have to defend themselves over something that is a matter of "personal opinion".

The shop does sell coffins and believe others have had an "extreme reaction".

(Image: Hull Daily Mail / MEN Media)

Another woman, 51, who works nearby, says she has heard some customers have found the shop window display "upsetting".

“I’ve had a few comments from customers. I think it’s a little bit distasteful and I don’t mean to sound awful but the shop doesn’t look like a funeral directors," she said.

“It has become a talking point and I know some customers have found it upsetting. It’s not something they want to look at.”

The company's staff, despite it being new to the street, have years of experience in the industry.

They say they believe "it is perfectly acceptable for an undertakers to have a coffin in the window" and that they are visible in a variety of stores when Halloween comes around.

The spokeswoman said: “Neither of us are in the wrong. It’s just a personal opinion.

“Seeing that [the coffin] in the window is not a shock factor because we sell coffins here.

“We feel we shouldn’t have to defend ourselves in this situation.

“We are an undertakers, and provide a service with dignity and care and we are very shocked to be honest with this reaction. It was an extreme reaction.

"Personally, it seems odd that we have only just started up business and this has happened to us.

“What about Halloween? There are coffins in shop windows all the time.

“We are always open for discussion about the services we provide - and want the complainant to know that.

Show more

“A child’s coffin in the window, of course, that would be upsetting and wrong, and we wouldn’t do it.

“Despite only opening in January, we have years of experience within the industry and we think it is perfectly acceptable for an undertakers to have a coffin in the window. They do it at businesses up and down the country.”