A Christmas-loving gran who runs a santa’s grotto from her bungalow has hit back at trolls who branded her a ‘weirdo’.
Shirley Harrison, 60, transforms her home in Pickering, North Yorkshire into a winter wonderland each year to dole out presents dressed as Mrs Claus.
But scrooges this week put Shirley at the centre of an online storm – questioning whether she had been vetted with background checks.
Shirley, who charges £6 per child and donates half of the proceeds to a local hospice, said the abuse had left her considering closing her festive funhouse.
The gran-of-five said: ‘It hurt, honestly. They basically implied that I’ve got kids coming in and out, so I must be a weirdo.
‘I put so much time and love into this every year. It takes me three months to get it all ready with homemade socks, gloves, and decorations for the kids.
‘To be called a weirdo – it’s upsetting.
‘It makes you feel awful, because you’re doing it for a good cause, and then you get these trolls. It makes you think ‘what’s the point?’
‘I don’t have any children in my home without their family. Obviously, some of the children want to come and sit on my knee and if I don’t know the family, then they won’t unless they ask their parents for permission.
‘For anybody to be so nasty and poisonous, I don’t understand it.
‘I don’t know if they’re just jealous and they can’t understand somebody doing something for nothing.’
Shirley and dad Alan Garratt, 77, have spread festive cheer for the past four years by transforming their neighbouring bungalows and gardens with hundreds of Christmas lights and decorations.
What started as a few inflatable decorations has grown into a full-fledged Christmas grotto, where Mrs Claus now welcomes over 100 children each season from as far away as Whitby, Filey and Scarborough.
The offending post on a community Facebook group was quickly taken down by the group’s moderators, but not before it had provoked a furious response from Shirley and locals.
Shirley’s daughter Zoe Garratt wrote: ‘To the anonymous d*** that shared pics and wrote the vile post regarding my mum and her grotto, you are absolutely disgusting.
‘My mum has done this for many years and has raised hundreds of pounds for charity, you absolutely d***, and for your own information she is CRB-checked.
‘She’s spent thousands of pounds to give the children a magical fun experience so before you right a post about somebody make sure you have the facts ps the money she charges goes straight to charity you absolute f****** n**.’
Pickering resident Cheyrl Dulson added: ‘Their post says more about their warped mind than anything.
‘Most people take it with the spirit it is intended and the vile thoughts wouldn’t even cross their mind let alone voice such disgusting, disrespectful things whilst hiding behind anonymity.
‘The majority of the village is behind you, please don’t let one bad apple spoil it for the kids who love and look forward to you welcoming them.’
Shirley also hit back saying: ‘The children come with their families and are not alone with me. I have over 30 families who come every year, feel free to message them with your vile accusations.
‘Shame you haven’t got the balls to post your name or I would take the matter further. Why would you slander someone who you don’t know and have no facts about what I do. Come on, put on your big boy pants and show yourself.
‘I have a long list of people here wanting to know who you are. You vile, sick individual.’
Shirley’s setup, including hundreds of lights, inflatables, and handmade gifts, takes about three months to complete each year.
She even stocks practical items like gloves and hats for families in need, and leaves sweets for kids to take from her garden wall.
She added: ‘One of my friends said there’s nowt around her children, so why don’t I do a grotto and raise some money.
‘I didn’t think it would take off but it has. I think last year we had 104 children.
‘It’s just lovely to see. The kids really enjoy it, and they really do believe.