A heartwarming winter scene in Oxford has turned into a frosty standoff between a local family and council officials who have ordered the destruction of a cheerful 4ft-tall snowman.
The seemingly innocent festive decoration, built with care by residents on Beaumont Road, has been deemed a potential hazard by Oxford City Council. In a move that has left the community baffled, officials claim the jolly figure could melt and refreeze, creating a dangerous icy patch on the pavement.
The council's directive was delivered not with a personal visit, but through a formal letter. It stated the snowman must be removed as its melting posed a "risk to pedestrians" and constituted an "obstruction on the highway".
Local residents have reacted with a mixture of disbelief and outrage, labelling the council's actions as the ultimate "Grinch-like" behaviour. Many have pointed out the absurdity of the situation, given the UK's unpredictable weather which sees puddles and ice form naturally everywhere during winter.
This incident has sparked a wider debate about the overzealous application of health and safety regulations in the UK, questioning whether common sense has been lost in a blizzard of bureaucratic red tape. For now, the snowman's fate remains on thin ice.
