Mum claims theme park staff left her daughter, 9, in tears after ordering her to remove clown mask for ‘security reasons’
The 35-year-old was looking forward to a day out with her three children at Drayton Manor’s ‘spooktacular’ event
A MUM has blasted a staff at a theme park over claims they left her nine-year-old daughter in tears - when they ordered her to remove a Halloween clown mask for “security reasons”.
The 35-year-old was looking forward to a day out with her three children at Drayton Manor’s "spooktacular" event.
But her daughter, who was dressed as a clown for Halloween, was allegedly told at the ticket booth to take off her mask or she wouldn’t be allowed in.
Her furious mum says she pointed out to staff that a family wearing burkas had walked in ahead of them without a problem, but claims the man told her: “The rule doesn’t apply to them.”
She told The Sun: “I couldn’t believe it.
“My daughter is tiny and was clearly not a threat to anyone.
“She was so excited for the day and ran up to the man selling tickets.
“But he said if she wanted to come in she had to take off her mask.
“He told us it was for security reasons and nobody was allowed in with their face covered.
“When I pointed out that a family wearing burkas walked straight in he just shrugged and said it didn’t apply to them.
“I’m not prejudiced but I do think it’s outrageous that my daughter was classed as a security risk.
“She’s a child - she wouldn’t harm a fly.
“I feel like they just pick and choose when to apply the rules. It’s ridiculous.”
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The woman from Warwickshire, who asked not to be named, was with her 12-year-old son, his friend, her youngest daughter, aged seven, and her mum.
Her son, who was dressed as a skeleton, and her other daughter, who was donning a pumpkin outfit, walked in without a problem.
She added: “My child was left inconsolable.
“She just broke down because she didn’t understand.
“I had to run back to the car to dump the mask because I couldn’t take it in and I didn’t have the heart to just bin it.
“I feel like it’s ruined what should have been an amazing day.”
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It boasts: “Drayton Manor will once again transform Thomas Land into the spook-tacular Island of Sodor, with Halloween decorations and spine-tingling fun on the 15th – 30th October 2016.
“Explore the theme park with your whole family (safety in numbers), just beware of a crack or the sound of footsteps behind you as you enter into some frightfully fun activities.”
But the group, who forked out nearly £130 for tickets, described the decorations as “poor to non-existent”.
Drayton Manor did not comment.