Clergy accuse Halfords of trivialising crucifixion

HALFORDS was criticised for poor taste yesterday after its Easter message to customers appeared to make light of the crucifixion of Jesus.

The motoring and cycle retailer sent an email promoting the store’s DIY products with a subject line that read: ‘Nail your projects this Easter.’

The apparent pun prompted outrage among customers on the day Christians attended Good Friday services. Jason Waterson said: ‘This really isn’t the right thing to say this weekend... Outrageous.’

A religious education teacher tweeted: ‘Really Halfords? Do you not think this is offensive?’

Mike Stockbridge posted online: ‘Someone hasn’t really thought this through!’

Commenting on the ‘rather crude piece of advertising’, Canon Dr Chris Sugden said Halfords should be forgiven as ‘Good Friday teaches us to forgive’.

‘Halfords have apologised and Jesus’s death on Good Friday teaches us to forgive as we have been forgiven,’ he told the Telegraph. The canon added: ‘We can suggest as a fruit of their repentance they make a donation to a Christian charity.’

The Bishop of Maidenhead, Rod Thomas, said it was a shame companies ‘trivialised the greatest moment in history’ in order to try to boost sales. If it’s just a pure coincidence, then that’s all it is,’ he said. ‘But if it’s more than that, then it’s a shame.’

A spokesman for Halfords said: ‘We sent an email to our DIY customer database with an insensitive title for Easter.

‘We did not intend to cause any offence, and would like to take the opportunity to apologise for any upset. As soon as we were made aware of the issue, we immediately stopped any further activity.’