Banned By The State II - Bunting, Christmas Lights, Ladders

You may be aware that our much-beloved leaders have found lots of reasons for banning Christmas lights because there's a danger that they might fall on somebody's head. But in Ampthill, Bedfordshire, they've gone one better. They're banning bunting too.

Or at least, they would have banned it, on the basis that it's too dangerous to put it up, were it not for the fact that it's up already, and is too dangerous to take down. And for whom does the State deem it too risky to climb ladders and take the bunting down ? The Fire Service ! Yes, folks, those people for whom it is absolutely OK to climb ladders to enter burning buildings, lift people out of top-floor windows and bring them back down to the ground cannot be trusted to nip up a ladder to take some bunting down. Or to put it up again next year to celebrate the town's annual gala day, or, doubtless, to put up the lights at Christmas.

Apparently Health and Safety regulations no longer allow the use of ladders to hang or remove decorations; it has to be done using hydraulic platforms. Specialist testing gear must be used to assess the safety of bolts anchoring decorations, and lampposts have been deeemed unsuitable for hanging decorations.

Thanks to Nanny Knows Best and Times Online for alerting us to this insane story.