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Susan Cope, 52, posted a photo of the three black gnomes on Facebook to “test the water” on interest. However, Susan, who runs Angelstone Gems, was slated on the social media site and received “a load of hate mail,” reports Stoke-on-Trent Live.

I think it’s the younger generation that take offence more really

Susan Cope, owner of Angelstone Gems

The entrepreneur, whose shop is in the Meir area of Stoke-on-Trent, says she is not racist.

“I didn’t really think anything of them. I’m certainly not racist,” Susan said.

“Obviously they’re saying that I am, when they don’t know me.

“I think it’s the younger generation that take offence more really.”

Susan had initially shared the photo on the shop’s own Facebook page, with the words: “Would any of you be interested in buying one of the Gollie Garden ornaments?”

But the backlash happened so quickly that Susan, from Weston Coyney, Stoke, decided to remove the post.

She said: “I was just testing the water. I said I’ll put the word out and see if anyone’s interested, and the next thing I just got a load of hate mail. Absolutely bombarded with it.  

“As far as I know they’re not illegal, because they altered the name. And people do still have them, so I said I’ll see if anybody’s interested.

“Sometimes it’s like a memory for people isn’t it? Like a memory, when I was little. There’s no harm intended whatsoever.

“(The supplier) says ‘I’ve got these, there’s only three left’. He sells absolutely loads of them. I don’t see it as a racist thing at all. It’s not like, ‘I’m a racist, buy these’.”

Susan now no longer intends to buy and sell the items, known as golly gnomes.

She added: “I only offered them. I never said these are in store now.

“I said there’s three left if anybody’s interested. I did get a lot of messages of people wanting them. Obviously I’ve told them no, I’m not going to sell them.”

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