Lincolnshire Voice

A town is now decked with hanging baskets after traders refused to give in to health and safety red tape.

The Lydney's trader group in Gloucestershire ordered more than 30 hanging baskets and put them up themselves to avoid paying a £585 load testing fee.

The town council scrapped plans for hanging baskets at a meeting because of health and safety costs.

This prompted Forest of Dean district council officer Roger Garbett to abseil down the Beechenhurst Lodge climbing wall dressed as a human hanging basket to highlight that there was no legislation which demanded baskets be load tested.

He said "It is brilliant they are fighting back against the namby-pamby society we are sleepwalking into where everyone is scared of being sued."