After generations of us have cleared rubbish from verges and roadsides the health and safety addicts have ordered that this highly dangerous practise must cease.

For safety's sake rubbish should only be cleared away if there is a footpath to stand on.

Our villages have very few footpaths and the roads are extremely narrow so we instinctively step on to the verge when walking along the road whether or not we may be collecting rubbish or walking the dog.

At least 90pc of us are blessed with common sense and do not need to be told that there are circumstances where you could trip over, drown, be electrocuted, fall off a tall building or get bitten by a wild animal.

One odd ruling is that any child under eight visiting a swimming pool must be accompanied by an adult, even if the child can swim and the adult can't.

What sense is that unless it is an express way to learn life saving.