The owner of a business offering spiritual healing has been forced to deny any link to the extremist militia group ISIS.

Maria Savva, offers séances, tarot readings and past-life regression sessions, among other services, at the Spirit of Isis in Sun Street, Waltham Abbey.

The business is named after an ancient Egyptian goddess of children and protector of the dead.

But customers have questioned her over a possible link with ISIS, also known as ISIL and Islamic State, which has taken control of parts of Syria and Iraq.

The extremist group has carried out mass executions and posted videos of the beheadings of western hostages, including the killing of British aid worker Peter Henning.

Ms Savva said many people have stopped when they notice the name of her business and entered to shop looking for answers.

The College of Psychic Studies graduate said: “The name certainly draws their attention, but they end up realising we are not the enemy, we are the good guys.”

“I thought ‘just my luck’ when ISIS came to prominence.

“I had a very well-to-do woman come in here and say she didn’t like the shop’s name.

“She told me that she did not approve of the name and its associations, but I’m not going to change it. I was here first.

 “I want this place to be the opposite of what the terrorist group stand for. This is a place of sanctuary and healing.

Ms Savva believes the terror group were wrong to allow themselves to be known as ISIS.

She added: “I was furious at them for using Isis’s name. I’m maybe a bit obsessive but I believe they are being disrespectful to the goddess.

“I prayed and prayed that they would change their name, and days later they officially changed it, maybe they heard me.”