Caught Red Handed,

duck faces the chop!

if Katy Nicholls, North Devon Council's licensing manager, has her way also speaking on behalf of Torridge District Council and Mid Devon District Council, she has banned Barrie Hayman and his duck from collecting on the street for charity, the charity Star the duck and his owner support is Children's Hospice South West and support of the sick children at Little Bridge House, here is the problem, Barrie, who collects in his spare time, only decides if he will collect each morning depending on the weather, the council however want him to apply for a permit every time he wished to collect money for Children's Hospice South West, so potentially if we have a dry year 365 applications!

many people in North Devon aren't happy with the news, Sally Shepherd, who works at Blazey's of Bideford, has set up an online petition in support of Barrie, 'I'm absolutely gutted at the news, He does such a good thing for a local charity and it makes me sad that he's been told he can't collect anymore, I don't agree with it', to sign Sally's petition visit www.chn.ge/QaSpKX, Alana Marie Smith, director of fundraising at the hospice, said: 'Barrie Hayman and Star are tremendous in their fundraising efforts for the hospice', but alas this blatant law breaking has got to stop,

Planet Earth to Katy Nicholls why not issue Barrie with a year long or better life time permit, (him or the duck)? but then that would be using common sense, I was forgetting we are dealing with a council official.