Florist ordered to take down celebration sign or pay £2,500 daily fine

A florist has been ordered to take down wooden 'flower shop of the year award' sign or face a fine of £2,500 a day.

Kaye Allan put an 11ft by 20in sign above the door of her listed property proclaiming: "UK Flower Shop of the Year" after beating 1,500 others to the national prize.

But the victory gesture has fallen foul of the local authority which has warned she faces a fine of £2,500 pounds for each day the "unauthorised advert" stays up.


Photo from here.

Mrs Allan, who runs her business in the market town of Yarm, near Stockton-on-Tees and trades at Diana Kaye, said: "I am just bewildered that they should react like this, rather than shouting about it."

Mrs Allan beat all comers to take the annual award made by the Flower Council of Holland, but the council's reaction means she may not defend her title next year.

She has decided to take the sign down from the premises in the High Street rather than face the severe financial penalties.