Pooh sticks declared a danger (From Oxford Mail)

Pooh sticks declared a danger

PEOPLE competing in Oxfordshire’s World Pooh Sticks Championships could be forced to swap the traditional wooden sticks for plastic ones because of health and safety fears.

Pam Melbourne competes in last weekend's Pooh Sticks competition

More than 2,000 people descended on Little Wittenham last Sunday for the 28th annual contest, organised by the Rotary Club of Oxford Spires.

In the game, inspired by AA Milne’s Winnie the Pooh stories, teams and individuals race wooden sticks on the River Thames at Days Lock, near Little Wittenham.

But in next year’s championships, the wooden sticks are likely to be banned because of fears that adults and children could get splinters.

“It is health and safety gone mad,” said Rotary club president Michael Saunder.

The contest, which attracts teams from all over the world, was cancelled in 2010 because of health and safety fears over high water levels.

Mr Saunders, 41, a father-of-one from Kidlington, added: “We were very disappointed when the competition couldn’t go ahead in 2010 and now this is another major blow.

“It will not be the same playing with plastic sticks. We will try very hard to get the ban overturned but I do not know if we will be able to in time.

“Plastic sticks will not weigh as much so they could get washed away or even sink. I do not know how this is going to work.

“My son Henry is five months old at the moment and I hope wooden sticks will be back long before he is ready to have a go.

“We were stunned when staff at the Health and Safety Board contacted us. AA Milne would be turning in his grave right now if he knew.”

He added: “If we do not take the advice of the HSB we could run into legal difficulties.”

HSB spokesman Terry Fied said: “When you have thousands of people turning up for an event like this, the likelihood is that at least one of them could get a splinter.

“Splinters can be very annoying and could even lead to major health problems if they are not dealt with properly.

“We took the view that it would be a lot safer for all concerned if people played with plastic sticks instead, particularly as children take part in this event.”