http://www.bbc.co.uk/new...gland-wiltshire-10936364 It is nearly Friday and I break up today for holidays so wanted to get one in......

Then......it's back....... To be fair most of the comment in the article says how ridiculous it is

As usual, selective use of facts produces a 'better' story, pointing the finger at 'elf 'n safety. "a potential hazard to pedestrians" this suggests that the baskets are too low for comfort "the way the hanging baskets were attached to the young trees, we confirmed they would cause harm to the trees " seems much clearer, more reasonable and nothing to do with safety. I'm not sure which of these "regulations and rules that dominate our society" need to be swept away , perhaps Public Liability? martin

Yes, funny looking 'young tree' in the picture - Looks more like the Queen Vic! Maybe it would had helped with a picture of a member of the public banging his/her head on the basket hanging from a tree looking more like a fishing rod (in action). Reminds me of the headline I read in another rag last week '28,000 crashes caused by speed cameras'. However, reading the first sentence it then said 'nearly 28,000 crashes may have been caused by speed cameras'. How do they get away with it? I'm off to earn more millions if only all my fans would stop cheering and let me get on! Simon

So sorry - couldn't resist ;) "The John Lewis store in Milton Keynes had put the health and safety of staff and customers at risk when it hired a cherry picker from the shopping centre. The cherry picker was required to help hang an advertising banner above the store's entrance. Madeline Nicholas, the store's merchandising manager, had been helping out with the task and, as she held open the shopping centre's main doors to allow the vehicle to pass through, she was struck by the cherry picker's hanging basket. Mrs Nicholas sustained a deep cut above her eye during the incident, which ought not to have occurred if health and safety guidelines had been observed."

Phil, You can use this for your council election picture next year to make Clairel happy ;0)

MaxPayne asked: "Does anyone actually know or have ever heard of anyone being injured by a hanging basket?" Yes. 15 years ago at my City Council. A 5 year old lad, standing next to mum outside a shop, was hit on the shoulder by a large flower basket which came adrift from above. It weighed 25kg. Investigation revealed that there was a mis-match between the bracket and the ring of the basket chain. Brackets supplied by the shop proprietors, filled baskets then put up by the council for city in bloom display. "Operative" seems to have just perched the basket on the end of the bracket as it would not fit properly. Did raise question of clear specifications etc. I recall quite a bit of time was put into the various options for prevention etc. This was well before the media silly decade started - almost feel embarrassed by the experience every time I see this 'hanging basket terror' press. Still - I reckon that was a very close call for this lad who could have been laid flat.