A PUB manager has received death threats after Facebook rumours said its staff mistreated an elderly customer, Marston's brewery has claimed.
A post appearing on various Facebook sites alleges that an 84-year-old woman, with Alzheimer's, was laughed at for eating with her hands during a family meal at the Dog and Duck, in Shardlow.
The post states that the woman had visited the pub for her 84th birthday on Sunday, along with her family.
It goes on to allege that when "ignorant staff were confronted by the elderly woman's daughter for their behaviour the manageress stepped in and asked the whole family to leave".
But a spokesperson for Marston's, which owns the pub in London Road, said the family "were not mocked" and that the police had been informed of the Facebook posts.
They said: "We have spoken to all the staff about the problem which occurred at the Dog & Duck on Sunday. A member of the family concerned has called the pub to apologise for the incident.
"They were not mocked, nor were they asked to leave by our manager or any of our team– they left of their own accord. The customers are regulars and are known and liked by our staff.
"As a consequence of the aggressive attacks on social media there have been telephone and email death threats to the manager and her family.
"This is completely ridiculous under any circumstances. The page has now been reported to Facebook and the matter has now been placed in the hands of police. The staff accused of this are really upset by the huge social media backlash over and incident which was not of their making, and they were enjoying their day at work.
"We have contacted the family to try and resolve any issue they may still have."
