THE Royal British Legion has criticised an antiques shop for selling a Hitler Youth uniform - and displaying it in the window.

Roy Lockwood, chair of the East Lancashire branch of the war veterans' charity, said Selitall Antiques' decision was "in bad taste".

Senior councillors have also criticised the decision to put the item up for sale in such a prominent position in the Accrington shop which is across the road from the town hall.

But staff at Selitall have hit back, saying that the outfit was "harmless" and had attracted a lot of interest.

The store is offering the genuine black cloth uniform - complete with a swastika-daubed sword - for £1,850.

It is one of many items of Nazi memorabilia on sale in the shop, alongside de-activated firearms dating to the American Civil War.

A portrait of Hitler also hangs behind the cash desk which is for sale.

The Hitler Youth was a paramilitary organisation that paved the way for German youngsters to join the Nazi party.

The outfit, displayed on a child-sized mannequin, bears emblems for both the Hitler-Jugend, which accepted boys from the age of 14 to 18, and the Deutsches Jungvolk, which took boys aged 10 to 14.

Roy Lockwood, chair of the East Lancashire branch of the British Legion, said the matter should not be taken lightly.

He said: "I think it is in bad taste. These people can sell what they want but they don't need to shove it in our noses - it should not be in the shop window.

"They may think it is clever but I am sure local war veterans will not."

Councillors have also criticised the decision to sell the uniform.

Coun Graham Jones, leader of the Labour party, said: "Many people made a great sacrifice during the two World Wars and we should not forget that.

"A reminder like this is out of order. Such an item should be on display in a museum - not on sale."

Coun Peter Britcliffe, leader of the council, added: "We will be having a word with the shop's owner."

Shop manager Paul Barrett said: "It is a harmless item - nothing more than fancy dress.

"A lot of people have been interested in the outfit, but for military history reasons rather than political ones."