CHIPPER the squirrel has been given the brush-off by shopping centre security guards who won’t let him hand out leaflets because they pose a safety risk.

Play centre boss Mike Foster, pictured with Chipper, said Didcot’s Orchard Centre should drop the ban to support businesses.

Mr Foster, also president of Didcot Chamber of Commerce, and Chipper, whose costume is worn by his colleague Dave Roberts, have been told to leave the centre twice by guards, because of complaints that the leaflets created too much litter and were a “slip hazard”.

Mr Foster, owner of the Treehouse play centre off Broadway, was told about the ban at a meeting with centre manager Steve Murray.

Mr Foster said: “There is a lot of footfall through the shopping centre and I thought it would be a good way to promote the business.

“But the centre felt there was a health and safety risk to shoppers who might drop the leaflets if they did not want them, and other shoppers could then slip on them.”

Mr Murray said: “People do often drop the leaflets which could become a slip hazard so, for health and safety reasons, we do not allow the distribution of leaflets in the shopping centre.

“We ask that anyone wanting to use the Orchard Centre for commercial purposes, asks permission first.”