REGARDING your article “Ban for golliwog window display” (Echo, June 10) Purbeck arts festival committee should hang its head in shame for the way it has treated Viv Endicott by excluding her from the window display contest.

The festival committee says that the image of the golliwog is seen by many as a crude racial stereotype, was offensive and the festival did not want to be associated with it. It also stated that if people had been offended, it would like to apologise for it.

This seems like another prime example of political correctness gone mad.

Criticism also came from the Dorset Race Equality Council. Chief officer Adnan Choudry said golliwogs are offensive to people of any race.

He states he has told Miss Endicott they should not be sold but that she goes on selling them. What a cheek he has, they seem to specialise in looking for offence where none is intended.

Let’s look at the issue of what offends. I and many others are very offended by seeing females wearing hijabs and burkas, also halal meat being sold and the cruel way animals are slaughtered to provide this.

Does Mr Choudry use his good office to publicise that this may offend many people? I very much doubt it. He would probably defend it by saying it is down to religion and culture, so offence only seems to work one way.

However, Miss Endicott says the rag dolls are synonymous with Enid Blyton Books, which in turn are part of English culture and history and that history cannot be erased, nor can you ban the bits of it that you do not like.

Miss Endicott is to be complimented on her defence of free speech and speaking out while others are so quick to apologise for fear of offending.

I might add that many will agree with me that Miss Endicott is in no way racist in what she says or does and that her Enid Blyton-themed Ginger Pop shop in Corfe Castle is a credit to her and should be included in the annual Purbeck Arts Festival window display contest.

C D MOYES Harkwood Drive, Hamworthy