LAST June, Masham residents were told to take down miniature jerseys, knitted as favours for the Tour de France, in case the wool became wet and caused the town’s steel lamp posts to bend under the weight.

The story caused national bemusement because of the daftness of it all and we thought that might make council officials think twice in future.

But not a bit of it. Just ask the good folk of Helmsley, where a festive yarn ‘bomb’’ has been removed from Earl Feversham’s statue on the Market Square after official fears that the woollen Christmas decoration might damage the stonework.

What a shame that something so seemingly innocent should fall foul of officialdom. Who knew knitting could be so dangerous?