KILLJOY council chiefs threatened to impound a Mr Zippy doll being displayed at a bus stop outside a shop.

Fans of the character from the Rainbow television show have joined a campaign to return the shop mascot after officials entered the Zip Yard clothing alterations store in Winton and issued a notice of removal.

“It’s pathetic,” said Kevin Old, the store owner.

“Two council officers came in and demanded to speak to the owner.

“My wife Samantha was here serving a customer and asked them to wait but they walked half way down into the back of the shop.

“She said ‘excuse me, that’s where our seamstresses are working’ and they issued us with a notice.

“Failure to remove him will result in him being taken away and we would have to pay £30 to get him back so we removed him.”

The shop has started a Facebook campaign to put Mr Zippy back.

Robert Hotchkiss, Senior Civil Enforcement Officer at Bournemouth council, said they received complaints about Mr Zippy “causing an obstruction” for pedestrians and bus stop users in Wimborne Road.

He said: “The Mr Zippy dummy is covered under the Highways Act 1980 in the same way that ‘A’ boards are.

“In this instance the Mr Zippy dummy was left by the bus stop creating a hazard for pedestrians.”