POUNDLAND has withdrawn a Halloween polystyrene pumpkin from sale after complaints by outraged environmental groups.

Tywyn Beach Guardians and Aberystwyth Beach Buddies denounced Poundland for suggesting that people should forego a traditional pumpkin and carve their own plastic one, a decision they called a “Halloween horror”.

In a social media post Aberystwyth Beach Buddies wrote: “Poundland Aberystwyth are selling ‘polystyrene pumpkins’ and worse still, suggesting you carve them.

“It’s 2018, the world is drowning in single use plastic. Please feel free to tell Poundland to stop this insanity.”

In a statement directed at Poundland, Alan Cookson, management coordinator for Aberystwyth Beach Buddies, said: “I’m sure you’ll agree that when you consider just these few mere elements of plastic pollution, that your product, a faux polystyrene pumpkin, and your encouragement to carve this down to possibly millions of smaller pieces doesn’t really have a place in today’s world.

“As a high street brand retailer you have a duty of care to your customers and beyond that to our one and only planet, the environment and our future – you have grotesquely failed in providing this.”

A spokesperson for Poundland told the Cambrian News on Tuesday: “Decorative items such as these are designed for indoor use and for re-use in future years.

“However, I hope you’ll be pleased to hear while these items have been on general sale in many retailers, we confirm we’ve taken the decision not to repurchase them and remove them from sale today.”

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