An under-fire shopkeeper agreed to remove a “deeply offensive” imitation crossbow from the window display of his city centre store following intense pressure from campaigners.

Prominent members of Bradford’s Christian community, the city’s rape crisis group and Bradford Council’s leader have all criticised a window display including a fake crossbow, Samurai swords and knives at Barkers tobacconist in Sunbridge Road.

Self-styled Crossbow Cannibal Stephen Griffiths brutally murdered at least one of his victims, Suzanne Blamires, with a crossbow in a corridor outside his flat in Holmfield Court, Thornton Road, Bradford – only 500 metres from the city centre shop.

Pervez Abbas, who owns Barkers, has now agreed to take down the fake crossbow following strong criticism from city centre mission priest, The Reverend Chris Howson.

His plea was backed by Canon Andy Williams of Bradford Cathedral and Jane Gregory vice-chairman of women’s group Bradford Rape Crisis.

Council leader, Councillor Ian Greenwood, also criticised the shop’s owners as “irresponsible” for selling the fake weaponry.

Mr Abbas has now bowed to pressure, and told campaigners, who confronted him at his shop: “I want to work with the local community, so I’m happy to remove the crossbow, although I am under no legal duty to do so.”

He also reassured the campaigners he only sells the fake weapons to over-18s.

The Telegraph & Argus previously reported criticism of the continued sale of the imitation weapons in the days after Griffiths, 40, was jailed indefinitely for his horrific crimes.

At the time, Mr Howson, asked for the £14.99 crossbow to be removed. Mr Abbas initially agreed but it was only taken down this week.

Bradford Council’s solicitors and West Yorkshire Trading Standards have previously investigated Barkers’ sale of imitation weapons and discovered it is trading within the law.

But Coun Greenwood said: “I certainly don’t think that, in the centre of our city, we should be having swords, fire arms and replica crossbows, in a shop window display.

“The question shopkeepers should be asking is not ‘am I behaving within the law’ but ‘am I behaving responsibly’. I do not think putting replica weapons in a shop window is acting responsibly.”

Mr Howson said: “I was shocked people like Stephen Griffiths could buy weapons like this from this shop and would be classed as collectors. He also had a display of Samurai swords on the walls just like the swords this shop is selling.”

Canon Williams said the removal of the crossbow was “an appreciated gesture.” But he added: “It is not enough in terms of the overall display. There are still weapons on display which are designed to intimidate and threaten and could be used to maim or injure.”

Women’s group Bradford Rape Crisis fears the sale of imitation weapons encourages serious sexual violence against women.

Jane Gregory from the group, said she was “very concerned” at Barkers’ window display, particularly balaclavas, air pistols.

Bradford Rape Crisis members were involved in a silent protest to remember Stephen Griffiths’ victims and other women subjected to abuse after his crimes were discovered.

Miss Gregory said: “These weapons could be used in the home by men to terrorise their partner. The majority of sexual violence happens in the home and, if someone comes at you with a realistic looking gun, how are you supposed to know it is an imitation weapon?

Bradford resident John Rhodes has contacted the district’s MPs, police and trading standards about the fake weapons on display in the shop’s window.

He has asked Home Secretary Theresa May to look at changing the Violent Crime Reduction Act, to ban public displays of weapons or imitation weapons, but said he was “not convinced” that would happen and appealed to the conscience of the shop-owner to remove other replica weapons.