A coastal café has sparked fury after it has been spotted selling "morally unacceptable" golliwog dolls.
The offensive dolls were seen on display at the popular Old Manor Café on Manor Road in Norfolk, to the horror of outraged customers. But the café manager has defended his decision to sell the dolls, which were once popular in Britain but are now widely considered racist.
A shocked customer, who asked not to be named, slammed the shop for selling the dolls and said they were "morally unacceptable". They said: "We recently dropped in for a bite to eat and were shocked to find these openly on show and available for purchase.
"These racially stereotypical caricatures have been morally unacceptable in this country for years. But not in Norfolk, it would appear. They are racially divisive and antisocial."
As well as golliwogs, the cafe's shelves feature figurines including Betty Boop and Great Yarmouth fishermen. The manager defended the dolls and said no customer has complained to him personally. He said the souvenir remains popular with some of his customers, and that he sells "hundreds of them".
The manager, who asked not to be named, said: "For starters, they're called gollies. But it's ok for people to complain about them. It is their right.
"But people aren't complaining about the other things I have on display. They're not seeing the whole picture."
But he admitted two other customers complained to another staff member last year and later called the police about the figures. He added: "The people went home, visited their local police station, who told headquarters, who told Great Yarmouth police, who then told Flegg police.
"Four police forces were involved, all because someone didn't want to say anything to me. I sold 12 of them to a black bloke from Brixton, and he superglued them all to his dashboard. He loved them."
This comes in the same week that a pub landlady, Benice Ryley, defiantly displayed her Gollies dolls in her pub, despite police seizing the toys just days ago as part of alleged "hate crime".
Benice, 61, has said that they have long displayed a collection of the controversial dolls and had been given them as gifts from customers over the years. But on April 5, five officers arrived at the pub following reports of a hate crime at the property.
The golliwog became a popular character in Britain in the 1970s. Paisley jam and marmalade manufacturer Robertson's used the doll as its trademark symbol and sold badges, games for children, and even clothing adorned with the caricature.
But Robertson's stopped using the golly character in 2002. Having the appearance of jet-black skin, big lips and big white teeth, golliwogs have been used to dehumanise black people.
Inside the café on Friday morning, several customers had a discussion about the sale of the figures and whether they were offensive. One customer said: "If someone is offended by it, they should be able to say that they're offended.
"I appreciate these things are not pleasant and outdated. I personally wouldn't have them out, and I would challenge anyone being racist.
"But to say they're a hate crime, I think that is disrespectful to real hate crimes where people are really suffering because of the colour of their skin or religion. Gollies will fade away sooner or later. But forcing people to get rid of them is focusing on the wrong things.
"There are other forms of upset and inequality that people experience that have greater significance."
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