A Somerset landlord has accused his local council officials of political correctness gone mad after being told that his prize-winning flower arrangements broke health and safety laws.
Council officials said that the tubs containing the flowers were too big for the pavement, with hanging displays suspended beneath the minimum safety height of 8ft2.
Ian Collins, landlord of The Ring of Bells, said: "The first thing I knew about this was when a council man approached me as I was putting up the display this year. He told me to take it down as it was encroaching on the pavement, but our side of the footpath is very quiet and hardly used."
Somerset County Council said: "This is not about political correctness. The safety of the public has to be the first priority for Somerset highways.
"To allow planting that might cause pedestrians to step into the carriageway and sustain a serious injury would mean the council was falling short of its responsibility of ensuring public safety."
