A restaurant owner was left "speechless" after a council environment officer warned him for adjusting his Christmas lights standing on a chair.
Ray Compton, owner of Intimo-Fresco on High Street, Maldon, was concerned that drunken New Year's Eve revellers may attempt to grab his low-lying fairy lights.
He received a phone call from an environment officer on Monday warning him of his actions, after apparently being spotted by a passerby.
"I was speechless really: it was quite surreal to receive the phone call and at first I thought it was a joke," said the 51-year-old.
A Maldon District Council spokesman confirmed the authority called Mr Compton and advised him "appropriate equipment should be used", but no further action was being taken.
