Unholy row breaks out after night-school course in Satanism

 Spirits are running very high in Worle

An unholy row has broken out after a night-school course in Satanism was launched in a village hall.

Occultist Scott Jones is guiding students through topics such as a witchcraft, Satanism and tarot during the course in Worle, Somerset.

Students on the 10-week course, will learn how to "increase their mental and physical strength through meditation" discover the "magic alphabet" and investigate rituals with dolls.

But the course, headed by Mr Jones, 35, has been heavily criticised by horrified locals, who claim the subject matter of the course is "distasteful and awful".

Placard-waving protesters have campaigned outside the community centre while the class is taking place.

And Mr Jones, who lives in Worle, has received hate mail and a petition asking him to stop the course immediately.

He said: "The course is focused around studying the Luciferian path and how it can lead to self improvement.

"Students study a wide variety of topics from the history, philosophy and theory of witchcraft and Satanism to the use of emotion and meditation.

"There is no practical aspect to it so there's no spells being cast behind doors or any of that nonsense that people are so quick to believe.

"I've been absolutely shocked with the level of ignorance and pettiness that has been aroused around the area because of this course.

"I've run the course six times before in Coventry and never had problems like this.

"I've received lots of mail from people asking me to stop the course immediately, but there's no way that this will happen."

Mr Jones said that his students, who are mixed in age range from their early twenties to late sixties, have enjoyed what they have studied so far.

But locals haven't been so impressed.

One resident from the nearby village of Milton wrote complaining letters to Mr Jones telling him that he should be ashamed for running the course in the first place.

The pensioner, who refused to be identified, said: "I think a lot of people are horrified that such a thing could happen.

"Most people in the area are quite alarmed about the course - there's enough trouble in the world without inviting Satan in to make things worse.

"I wouldn't like it if I had to attend a course at the centre while that was going on."

She added: "I find it extremely sad that it should have to happen and I think it should be banned."

Local councillor Roz Willis said because the community centre is run as a charity, Charity Commission rules state that cancelling the course would be breaking the law.

She said: "The Christian element in the area are very upset about the course.

"Personally I'm not too happy about it either but there's nothing we can do. We have to go about it in a way that can be managed."

The course continues next Tuesday evening.