A FAMILY had their Christmas dinner ruined when they opened a cracker containing an offensive quiz about the World Trade Centre.
Sheila Jones said the slip of paper which asked people to name the “the twin skyscrapers, 1,361 feet high, that are the tallest buildings in New York “ was inexcusable more than a decade after the Twin Towers were destroyed on 9/11.
The 47-year-old was tucking into a festive meal at her home in Wildwood, Stafford, with husband Tim when their son found the insensitive question inside a cracker which had been bought from the town’s Wilkinsons store two weeks ago.
She said the find wrecked the family’s yuletide celebrations and could have had a “devastating” effect on people who knew victims of the terrorist attack.
“To say the atmosphere changed at our Christmas meal is an understatement,” Mrs Jones said.
“This is a completely tasteless and will undoubtedly offend many, many people.
“We personally did not lose anyone in the 9/11 atrocities but were still totally shocked by this and cannot believe that such a thing could be considered suitable for a Christmas cracker or any other occasion for that matter.” Mrs Jones’ discovery comes just three months after a ceremony was held at Ground Zero to commemorate 10 years since the attacks.
Nearly 3,000 died on September 11, 2001 when al-Qaeda terrorists hijacked four passenger planes.
Mrs Jones added: “I just hope no-one opens one of these cracker boxes who has lost a member of their family.
“When my husband read out the piece of paper I couldn’t believe it.
“I can only assume these crackers are old stock and many years old, printed before the dreadful events of September 11th. I would like an explanation from Wilko.” The message was contained in a box of eight “luxury” crackers manufactured in China, which Mrs Jones had purchased for £10 from the Broad Street store to help provide a lift to festivities.
A spokesperson for Wilkinsons said the firm was disturbed to hear of the incident.
"We are a family business and would never knowingly include inappropriate material in our Christmas crackers.
“We apologise to our customers and an immediate investigation is under way with our suppliers."
