Safety mania bursts clown's bubbles

A clown has had to stop blowing bubbles for children to chase after being warned it could be a safety hazard.

Tony Turner, also known as Barney Baloney, will now stick to clowning and juggling after being refused insurance by several companies which feared youngsters might slip on the bubbles' residue.



Mr Turner, 47, who is married with three children, said yesterday: "The fun is being taken out of children's lives by bureaucracy."

Equity, the actors' union, has now agreed to insure the Sheffield clown's act but, after taking advice, he will no longer be blowing bubbles.