Pensioner told she can't tend flowerbed unless she erects warning signs and wears a fluorescent jacket

A pensioner has been banned from tending a village flowerbed - unless she puts up warning signs, wears fluorescent clothing and has someone standing by as a lookout.

For eight years green-fingered grandmother June Turnbull, 79, has tended the blooms at the entrance to the village and paid for it all using her pension.

And all without any accidents or mishaps.

But now the frail pensioner will have to have three large 'men at work' signs erected while she gardens for three hours each week.

June, however, is defiant and says that she will go to jail rather than stop tending the pretty flowerbed in the picture-postcard village of Urchfont, near Devizes, in Wiltshire.

Wiltshire County Council says June must abide by the rules because the flowerbed is on a highway and because of that they need a licence for her to work there.

To qualify for a licence from the Highways Authority she must wear a fluorescent jacket, have three metal warning signs surrounding her and have a man on guard.

With a licence, Urchfont Parish Council can put June on their insurance policy.

But June, who cycles half a mile to tend the flowers, blasted the rules.

She said: "This is health and safety gone mad.

"It is red tape bureaucracy.

"They can send me to jail if they like. I just want to be left alone to do it.

"It is a very pretty flowerbed and I have tried to make it look very natura.

"I have paid hundreds of pounds to plant the flowers myself and the compost every spring and autumn has been paid for out of my pension.

"I work there until the gardening is done. I love doing it.

"It is my bit to keep the village tidy. It is a lovely little village and I want to make it as pretty as I possibly can."

She added: "Now the county council says I have to have men at work signs - but I am just a 79-year-old pensioner.

"I will continue working on the flower bed."

Peter Newell chairman of Urchfont Parish Council accused the county council of going "a bit over the top".

He said: "We need to get a licence from the Highways Authority if she is to continue.

"Because it is part of the highway the parish council has to have a licence.

"She must wear a fluorescent jacket and have three warning signs and a man standing on guard to get that licence and go on our insurance."

The parish council is meeting next month to decide whether to obey the county council's demands.

Mr Newell went on: "If we don't June will have to stop. We want the flower bed to continue because it is a lovely entrance to the village. She has done a wonderful job for the last eight years - she is marvellous.

"It has been a labour of love for her. We all think it is a bit over the top."

Peter Hanson, divisional highways manager for Wiltshire County Council, stressed these conditions would apply to paid employees of the council.

He said: "We require that people undertaking this type of work follow the same safety procedures as our own staff to ensure they are not put at risk.

"This will include wearing fluorescent jackets, placing warning signs and in some cases such as this location in Urchfont because it is on a bend working in pairs"