IT WAS described as nonsense and a blow against common sense.

Our front-page story on Monday revealed how Bournemouth's leisure centres have been banned from lending armbands and rubber rings to swimmers.

Professional guidelines dictate it is to protect swimmers from "risks" such as catching germs from blowing up water wings by mouth.

The story has caused a bit of a splash, with many of you logging on to the Daily Echo website to air your views.

Nickboy, from west London, described the policy as "ridiculous" and said: "This is the reality of modern nanny state Britain."

SC from Moordown agreed: "We now live in a complete nanny state, where even common sense is not permitted to prevail."

SC said the council should be trying to curb dangerous activities on and close to the beach, rather than focusing on the armbands issue, adding: "As always, the council prefer to waste time and money on irrelevant issues."

Terry Pardy was equally bemused by the ruling: "Germs? I thought that's what they put huge amounts of chlorine in the swimming pool water for!"

JC argued the greatest risk of catching something came from the fact that everyone swims in the same water.

"What's next for the health and safety brigade?

"Only allowing one swimmer in the pool at a time and insisting the water is changed after each person?"

Azriel6290, from Bourne-mouth, said the council needed to "get their priorities straight", adding: "It is a small issue which in my view the council is taking far too seriously."

Mike Picking from Bournemouth argued a simple sign would address the problem: "All persons using these items do so at their own risk."

Fedupwithjobsworths, meanwhile, said it could all be summed up in one word: "Jobsworths".