A floral-display group has been left fuming after the local council ordered participants to take part in a £165 safety course.

Members of Chatteris in Bloom were otherwise warned contractors would have to be hired at huge expense to do the job.

Cambridgeshire County Council argued the street lights pose the risk of volunteers electrocuting themselves.

There is no record of anyone suffering an electric shock from draping posies from a lamppost.

Chatteris in Bloom president Sue Unwin slammed the council for becoming health and safety “jobsworths” and stifling community spirit.

The 64-year-old said: “It has become impossible with the bureaucracy and the red tape.

“There's some jobsworth in the county council who has made this decision. We have been doing this for over 18 years.

“None of us have that capability or the money. We give enough of our time.

“We do everything properly and this bureaucracy is going to kill community spirit because we are getting fed up with this.

LATEST DEVELOPMENTS:
'More than welcome!' Shadow minister opens door to MORE Tory defectionsJonathan Gullis rips into BBC over impartiality row: ‘Scrap the bloody licence fee!’
Aldi row with housing developer leaves shoppers forced to take life into own hands

“We work hard to make our town look nice. Why can't they leave us along to get on with it?”

Chatteris in Bloom, which was founded in 2005, won Anglia in Bloom’s highest gold award four times between 2017 and 2022.

The floral-display group also received joint overall winner with Huntingdon last year.

Despite only using 20 lampposts, critics highlighted how one volunteer who undertook the day-long safety course would be unable to oversee every installation.

However, local resident Maggie Manders told the BBC: “You can't just have the flowers – the hanging baskets do make it. You can't have the fish without the chips.

“It would make my day if they let us have it. We love Chatteris in Bloom. Please let us have this.”

A Cambridgeshire County Council spokesperson said: “We are always keen to work closely with local communities across Cambridgeshire to make use of streetlights with festive displays.

“All we are asking is that any group wishing to create displays on our streetlights – which could involve putting heavy items overhead, on streetlights directly connected to the local power grid – is that they contact us first.

“This is so we can make sure essential independent safety training is completed for everyone's wellbeing.

“This is not red tape, it's about keeping people safe.'

“We are meeting with Chatteris Town Council tomorrow to discuss any concerns.”