Police are taking unprecedented steps to expose the writer of poison pen letters who has victimised a family in Stainforth.

Samples of the disturbing hand-written notes, which could be viewed as threats to kill, will be displayed at this weekend’s Grand Exhibition at Stainforth Village Hall.

Settle Police hope villagers will recognise the handwriting and identify the culprit, who has sent nearly 30 letters.

Forensic tests have been carried out on the hate mail and clear sets of fingerprints have been obtained.

One extract in one letter received by the family in the post, reads: “It’s a lovely day for a bonfire – yours.”

More of the letters allude to voodoo doll-type threats and others are of a more insulting nature.

The recipient of the hate mail, who wished to remain anonymous, said reading the letters, some of which arrived six at a time, had been deeply upsetting.

“These letters have been written with menace to cause maximum distress and it has worked,” said the recipient.

“Whoever has written these letters needs help to ensure they realise the damage they cause and that behaviour like this is unacceptable at every level.

“I hope by showing them at this weekend’s exhibition that it will bring this particularly nasty episode of village life to a close.”

Samples of the abusive hate mail will be featured in the exhibition, organised by Stainforth Community Action Group, together with a police appeal for information.

The appeal reads: “Any person with information as to the identity of the person who wrote and dispatched these letters should contact PC Michael Carr at Settle Police. We can eliminate suspects as we have forensic evidence.”

A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said the Crown Prosecution Service had confirmed some of the content could fall within the offence of carrying out threats to kill.

Other possible charges could be brought under the Harassment Act 1981 or the Malicious Communications Act 1981, which covers any material deemed by the recipient as offensive or indecent or that caused threat, distress or anxiety.

A North Yorkshire Police spokesman said: “While people may think that poison pen letters are trivial, North Yorkshire Police take the issue very seriously and they can cause the victim great distress.

“If anyone does recognise the handwriting we would like to remind people that they should pass the information to us and not to take any inappropriate actions themselves. People can pass information to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.”

The Grand Exhibition at Stainforth Village Hall takes place on Saturday and Sunday between 11am and 4pm.