Insure your book for £5m ... in case it injures someone

An author has been told his book honouring First World War soldiers cannot be stocked by his local council unless he takes out insurance worth £5million.

Officials said Mark Sutton needed the accident cover in case the public injured themselves on his book - for example, if it fell on their foot or they got paper cuts.

The book, Tell Them Of Us, has now been withdrawn from the Tourist Information Centre in Swindon until Mr Sutton stumps up the £150 insurance premium.



But he is refusing to pay, saying it goes against everything the soldiers whose bravery he details in his book stood for.

Council spokesman Richard Freeman said the insurance was to protect against potential legal claims caused by defective products.

He added that the council had now agreed to drop the level of cover for Mr Sutton down to £2 million.