IS this a sign that health and safety has gone mad?

Daniel Daniels took this picture of a sign which warns of the danger of magnolia petals, in St Andrew's Shopping Centre near Droitwich, where a magnolia tree stands.

Mr Daniels, a PR consultant, said: "I couldn't believe it when I walked past the sign. I was on my way to the bank but I had to stop and take a picture, it's just ridiculous. There were no magnolia petals to be seen, but even so, it's ridiculous that a sign even exists to warn people of the dangers of magnolia petals — they're hardly great big tree branches.

"I was astonished. It seems like health and safety gone mad to me."

Peter Jinks, the owner of the Spinning Wheel Restaurant and Wine Bar, and also the owner of the magnolia tree, said the managers of the St Andrew's Shopping Centre put the sign out to "make people aware" of the leaves.

He said: "The sign is put up every year, although I do think people have more chance of falling over the sign than they do any magnolia petals. I think people walking along the precinct can see the white petals for themselves."

But centre manager, Sean Sollom, stands by the centre's decision to use the sign.

"The sign is there because the blooms on the tree can become a slip hazard. When they fall off the tree they lie all over the ground and especially when they're wet they become very slippery," he said.

"No one has ever fallen over them since I've been here, but we'd rather be proactive than reactive and reduce the risk of anything like that happening."