A KEIGHLEY town centre shop has been blasted for displaying samurai swords and balaclava masks in its window.

Scoobys Bargain Centre has come under fire for showcasing the items in the wake of the horrific videoed be-headings by IS terrorists.

Coun Michael Westerman raised the issue this week at a meeting of Keighley Town Council's watch and transport committee, which he chairs.

He said several concerned townsfolk had approached councillors voicing anxieties about the display.

"The shop isn't acting illegally but in view of the atrocious acts we've seen recently and the heightened threat of attacks in this country you have to question whether this is right," said Coun Westerman.

"If the shop has to sell these items, they should be placed in an area away from public gaze and not be on show in the main window.

"I'm very concerned about this.

"The balaclava masks just have slits for the eyes. Why would anyone buy these other than for unlawful purposes?"

David Lodge, head of West Yorkshire Trading Standards, said he sympathised with people's concerns.

But he added that retailers are only breaching the law if they sell age-restricted knives and other bladed items to under-18s.

"You can go into any supermarket and buy kitchen knives which are probably as potentially dangerous as samurai swords," he said.

The Keighley News contacted Scoobys, in Cavendish Street, but was told by a member of staff that the manager was off sick and that no-one else could comment.

Keighley MP Kris Hopkins said while he appreciated Coun Westerman's point, he was more concerned about the possession and use of the weapons.

"I see no reason why anyone would wish to own these weapons and would caution people against choosing to buy one and risk it falling into the wrong hands," he said.

Mr Hopkins added: "It is against the law to possess an offensive weapon or bladed or sharply pointed article in a public place or on school premises.

"Two years ago the government also introduced a new aggravated form of these possession offences, which is committed when the person possessing the weapon uses it to threaten another in such a way that there is an immediate risk of serious physical harm to that other person.

"Offenders aged 16 or over convicted of the new aggravated offences will receive a mandatory custodial sentence."