GRANDFATHER Peter Fletcher is so incensed by red tape that has stopped the Devizes Lions May Fair from going ahead that he has created an effigy of a health and safety officer that he will put in the stocks in the Market Place at noon on Monday.

Mr Fletcher, 69, of Kempsfield, Devizes, says he has spent most of his life keeping a low profile but is so angry with Wiltshire Council that he is to stage a protest and then invite the people of Devizes to join him in a conga around the town.

He said: "Due to the total lack of response from Wiltshire Council regarding the inappropriateness of their over-the-top health and safety demands, which resulted in the cancellation of the Devizes Lions May Day Fair, I am going to hold an unofficial protest.

"I have made an effigy of a Wiltshire Council health and safety officer which will placed in medieval stocks to be mocked and jeered at. There will be a non-political short speech followed by a little street theatre, and the singing of the national anthem.

"I will lead a conga through the Market Place to reclaim it for the people of Devizes."

He urged supporters to wear something silly, to bring along musical instruments, flags, balloons and placards.

Devizes Lions president Roger Stratton revealed to the Gazette earlier this month that the fair that has run for more than 20 years had been cancelled because of ever-increasing demands that even included one officer asking in a telephone conversation if a plan was in place for a terror attack.

A number of people have written to the Gazette expressing astonishment at the need for such strict regulations so Mr Fletcher is hoping for a big turnout on Monday.

He will be drumming up support from today (Thursday) by driving around town with his effigy wearing a yellow high visibility jacket in the front passenger seat of his blue van. He said: "I look forward to seeing as many of the people of Devizes as possible at the protest. I hope people will join me if they believe it is their right as English men and women to be silly in public, to drink warm beer in a plastic glasses, to eat street food, and to laugh at your fellow townsfolk making fools of themselves without the aid of guidance from the faceless health and safety bureaucrats of Brussels, Westminster, but most especially Trowbridge."

A Wiltshire Council spokesperson said: “We have a responsibility to ensure events are run as safely as possible and that the people organising them are aware of what they need to do to make this happen.

“We have supported and worked closely with the Lions Club over the years with their event, however this time we felt their plan couldn’t guarantee a safe event."

But the council says it did not request anything related to anti-terror being put in place.