A FESTIVE yarn 'bomb ' has been removed from an ancient monument in Helmsley after fears the stonework could be damaged.

Business owners and members of the community had created the display of knitted Christmas decorations as part of the seasonal celebrations to mark Small Business Saturday on December 6.

However, last week the town council asked that the knitted figures were removed following concerns over the listed monument to the Earl Feversham in the Market Square.

Chris Parkin, chairman of the council, said that only recently the monument was damaged by someone who placed a traffic cone on the head of the Second Baron Feversham which they were unlikely to be able to repair.

"The knitted decorations were tethered to the monument around some rather delicate stone work and it may be that another prank would result in further damage which again would most likely be irreparable," he added.

"While Helmsley in Business Small Business Saturday is an event the town council was very happy to support, we cannot allow even the possibility of further damage how so ever caused to anything including the monument in which it has an insurable interest as it would be in breach of its conditions of insurance."

Mr Parkin said that while the residents of Helmsley may think the town council was acting in a petty fashion, there was concern someone may climb the monument and cause series damage.

" Who will explain to the town's insurers that the town council failed in its responsibility of protecting an ancient monument and perhaps most importantly who will pay for the repairs," he added.

Carolyn Frank, owner of Libby Butler Jewellers and member of Helmsley in Business, who was one of the people behind the idea, said the decorations had now been relocated to the All Saint's Church, with some remaining in the Market Place.

"We are of course disappointed that the council felt these needed to be removed," she added.

"Obviously we would never do anything to damage the monument, we just thought it was a lovely festive touch. "

Tony Webster, committee member at Helmsley in Business, and owner of Scotts Fish & Chips, said: "We'd like to say a huge thank you to both the residents and businesses who have worked so hard to knit the amazing displays in the yarn bomb, and I'm sure anyone who has seen it will agree it looks fantastic, and very festive.

"We had carefully planned the display so it wouldn't cause damage, and of course with wool being so soft we didn't think it would be a problem.

He added: "It’s such a shame that it had to be half re-homed, but at least like the Christmas pantomime there’s a happy ending, and we are grateful to the support from the townspeople and the vicar, who have helped us save it. "