A Highland chip shop owner has said she has no regrets after an angry crowd of locals surrounded her business after she posted a video celebrating the Queen’s death with champagne.
The takeaway was later forced to close on Thursday evening as people egged the store.
Police were deployed to the scene at Jaki’s Fish and Chip Shop to disperse the crowd who made their feelings known regarding Ms Pickett’s video.
Today the business reopened for three hours, while children sung God Save the Queen outside.
And Ms Pickett told the Press & Journal she has “no regrets” about sharing her views.
When asked if she had anything further she wanted to say in response to the backlash, she said “no comment”.
Crowds gather again outside chip shop
Locals told the Press & Journal they used to like the takeaway but since her views were made known through billboards in the shop window many have steered away.
Signs were seen in the shop window on Friday referencing a “fake virus”, describing the September 11 attacks as an “inside job” with another saying “Queenie – reptillian – death imminent”.
Stains on the sign from where eggs had been pelted at the shopfront were still visible.
Meanwhile, passersby were seen throwing bricks at the shopfront on Friday evening. None broke the glass.
Following the incident a member of the public called police to alert them to a group of youths hanging around the shop.
Police confirmed officers responded but found no crime had been committed and so left the scene.
The National Federation of Fish Friers has also decided to revoke the membership of the business, describing the social media posts as “extremely bad taste”.
The chip shop closed again at about 7pm on Friday. It is understood it would usually be due to stay open to 9pm. It is not known why it closed early.
Community concerns in Muir of Ord
Local resident fear the incident has put their small community in the spotlight for the wrong reasons.
One resident said Ms Pickets behaviour was “completely out of order.”
“I disagree completely with all she is doing,” she added.
Another resident said: “I don’t think anyone agrees with what she did. If you look at the rubbish in her window, it has been going on for years now and the village is fed up with her nonsense.”
Councillor Angela MacLean, who represents Muir of Ord, says the incident has sparked real concern in the community.
She said: “It is despicable what she has done. People are really upset about it, not only because she has done this on the death of the Queen but it is also because they don’t want to be associated in any way with her comments.
“They are concerned that as residents of Muir of Ord, because this is all on social media now, the community will be regarded by everyone as being of the same view as her and they are not.
“They are really upset that they will be tarred with the same brush.”