Every year, staff at the Party Shop on Mold high street, Flintshire, put Halloween Harry outside for the public to enjoy, and shop owner Helen Perry says he has been a hit with the public.

But claims that he is scaring small children have forced her to think about switching him off for good.

Helen has now left it to Evening Leader readers to decide whether Harry should stay or go.

She said: "The general public love Harry.

"Kids and adults alike have their photo taken with him – kids drag parents across the street just to see him and vice versa.

"Motorists at the traffic lights do a double-take when they see him.

"All in all, Harry is welcome in the lead-up to Halloween.On Saturday we put Harry out for the first time this year.

"He had only been out for a couple of hours when a man came into the shop shouting about Harry.

"He said Harry had frightened his little girl, and we should not let Harry frighten people.

"I do not want anyone to get upset. Halloween should be a fun time – so I switched Harry off, but then for the next couple of hours we were inundated with people wanting Harry to do his party piece."

Helen decided to start a petition, and by Saturday night had more than 100 signatures in favour of keeping Harry, and not one against.

She added: "Now it is over to the Evening Leader to ask a wider audience what they think.

"Whatever is decided, I will go with the majority."

What do you think? Should Harry the Zombie be allowed to stay outside the Party Shop in Mold?

Have your say by leaving a comment below and take part in our online poll at the side of this page.

The poll will run until noon on Thursday, October 9, 2008 and the results will then be presented to shop owner Helen Perry.


Please note this poll has now closed with 76 percent of voters calling for Harry to remain on display in Mold.