A company which produces porcelain models of village scenes has admitted to a blunder which left residents angry and confused.

Kent-based Decor Art Creations upset Great Bentley villagers after advertising a crockery set it claimed had been designed for the village but, in fact, contained pictures of another village.

Leaflets advertising the set were put through letterboxes in the lead-up to Christmas.

But after a string of complaints - and no sales - the company has now withdrawn it from the market.

The leaflet showed designs such as a church, school and post office, each with the words Great Bentley above the illustrations, but none of them were of the right village.

Villager Donald Walker said: "This has really annoyed us. They have nothing to do with Great Bentley. I think it's really rather disgusting."

The leaflet says the artist has "immortalised the loveliest spots of Great Bentley" and one of the designs is of "Bentley Baptist Church" when there is no Baptist church in the village.

Mr Walker said: "I realised immediately but I looked closely. If it had been someone with impaired sight or from out of the area, they might buy it."

Decor Art Creations said as soon as it received two phone calls from residents and realised they had made a mistake, the designs were immediately withdrawn from sale.

Jane Powell, from customer services, said: "The designs were intended for Bentley in Suffolk and due to a mix-up they were sent to Great Bentley instead."

Published Tuesday, January 7, 2003

Brought to you by the Evening Gazette