Balloon ban wipes smile off clown's face

This is ridiculous!

A British clown has had the smile wiped off his face after being told he could not use balloons in his act because children might be allergic to latex.

Barney Baloney said he was told by bosses at a supermarket where he was booked to appear that he should leave his balloons at home because of the potential for allergic reactions.

The 47-year-old entertainer, also known as Tony Turner, has previously had to ditch his bubble-making machine because he could not get public liability insurance as companies assessed that youngsters might slip and hurt themselves.

He said he was also told by one venue he could not twist balloons into the shape of guns for fear of encouraging youngsters to commit violence, although swords were deemed acceptable."At this rate I will have no act left," he said to the Yorkshire Post regional newspaper..

"Things are going from crazy to ridiculous."This country is going crazy with its political correctness and health and safety issues and it's making us a laughing stock."

A spokesman for the Tesco supermarket in Leeds where he was due to appear refused to back down."This is a health and safety issue," a spokesperson said.

Balloon ban wipes smile off clown's face - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)