Oh golly , toy shop dolls go into hiding from police

12:26pm Saturday 1st April 2006

GOLLYWOGS have "gone into hiding" in a toyshop in Chalfont St Peter, after other sellers of the toy have been threatened with prosecution.

Michael Warner, who runs the Activity Chest shop in the Market Place, has been selling the humble golliwogs since opening two years ago.

A month ago a report in a national newspaper told of a shopkeeper who was arrested for stocking the dolls, allegedly offending the public.

Mr Warner is still proud of selling the dolls, and one is in his window display but the character is hiding in a group of toys. Mr Warner put up a sign saying "We have gone into hiding because some jammy character in England has got it in for us. If you ask the good people in this shop they will find us for you."

Mr Warner, 46, said: "All they are are colourful, loveable characters from literature. They have been on view for two years, and in that time I have maybe had two people come in for a discussion about it. I said that if you don't want to buy them, you don't have to. But what is next baa baa rainbow sheep?'"