Slay bells ring as the Dungeon chains up Santa Claus

THEY'RE as much a part of Christmas as uneasy family get-togethers and festive decorations going up in September.

But it seems the traditional Santa's grotto has a competitor, and this one is less worried about how good you've been.

Bosses at Edinburgh Dungeon today defended plans for "Satan's Grotto" after the idea incurred the wrath of former city council leader and ordained Church of Scotland minister Ewan Aitken.

Mr Aitken, secretary of the Church of Scotland's church and society council, branded the gimmick "offensive in the extreme", and said the attraction risked upsetting members of the Capital's Christian community with the stunt, which is being promoted as an "Antichrist-mas grotto".

The city councillor said he was angry the Dungeon was marketing the grotto as an alternative to the Christmas message. "That's absolutely offensive and I take great exception to that," he said. "They would not dare do that to any other faith community and there will be members of the Christian community that will be offended.

"My focus at Christmas is on the power of forgiveness and hope. Their (the Dungeon's] suggestion that their alternative is better is offensive in the extreme."

He added: "My hope at Christmas is that we look at the positive message of Christ – to love our enemies. I doubt you would find any of that message at Edinburgh Dungeon's Satan's Grotto."

The promotional material for the grotto shows a kidnapped Father Christmas hanging from his wrists in Satan's "lair".

Publicity for the attraction says: "The Old Devil has kidnapped Santa and made himself the evil king of Christmas."

It then asks visitors to offer up their soul to the "Prince of Darkness" in return for a Christmas wish, adding that only the "naughtiest" will be rewarded.

It is not the first time the Dungeon has courted controversy.

Earlier this year the Market Street attraction fell foul of the Advertising Standards Authority, which ruled posters showing dismembered limbs to promote a William Wallace exhibit, were "too offensive for public display".

The Dungeon had previously been subject to a police investigation after the Commission for Racial Equality complained about a one-day ban on English visitors to commemorate the 1298 Battle of Falkirk.

A spokeswoman for the Dungeon said: "We don't want to offend people. This is something that is supposed to be humorous and a bit tongue-in-cheek. It's for all those who say 'Bah, Humbug!' to Christmas."