A grandad was left horrified and "embarrassed" after police officers woke him up asking to 'look inside baby's coffin'.
Antiques collector, John Long, 68, had the coffin as part of his quirky and unusual collection at his home in Killingworth, Newcastle.
A self confessed horror lover, John said he was struck with fear when neighbours told him that police had been knocking on his door looking for him.
But the grandad of three told Newcastle Chronicle that he was mortified when he discovered someone had reported him for having the innocuous coffin in his room.
He said: "I'm a collector of antiques and I'm a huge horror fan so I have lots of different things in my house. Some people may say I shouldn't have that kind of thing in my house, but no one usually sees it but me.
"I came back after being out and two neighbours had told me the police had been knocking on my door asking for me. I was so stressed waiting for them to come back, wondering what they were here about.
"Then at 7.50am on Thursday I was woken up by the police at my door, my heart was racing even though I expected them to come back but I didn't know what it was about.
"The coffin was in the corner of my bedroom and I had to open it to show them what was inside. There was a doll in there and they had a look inside and were quite happy with it so they left. The officer was lovely but it was totally embarrassing."
John was left so distressed by the incident that he struggled to sleep.
He said: "The whole thing has got me really upset, I couldn't sleep at all last night. I just thought what a carry-on, there has been all this trouble for nothing. I've been made to feel like a bad person.
"It's just caused so much stress and heartache, it's been awful. I didn't know what to do or who to speak to about it. I just feel so offended. I'm still really upset about it, it's got me totally distressed."
Police thanked the member of the public who made the report 'in good faith' and confirmed that there was 'nothing untoward' found in John's home.
A Northumbria Police spokesperson said: "We can confirm we attended an address in Killingworth following a report of a suspicious item that resembled a coffin inside.
"Officers attended and were satisfied there was nothing untoward. We would like to thank those who contacted the police and made the report in good faith."
