WISBECH: Local councillor forces Marks and Spencer balloon ban

A WISBECH councillor has succeeded in forcing a retail giant to ban its promotional balloons with immediate effect after one of his newborn lambs was almost strangled by a string from one them. Marks and Spencer has announced a nation-wide ban on the bal

A WISBECH councillor has succeeded in forcing a retail giant to ban its promotional balloons with immediate effect after one of his newborn lambs was almost strangled by a string from one them.

Marks and Spencer has announced a nation-wide ban on the balloons after being told of the incident involving a lamb belonging to Richard Fulcher.

Mr Fulcher who owns a butcher's shop in Norfolk Street, Wisbech, and also rears rare breeds found the lamb with the balloon string wrapped around its neck and legs. It could not stand up and had been abandoned by its mother.

The lamb, which was just a few hours old and was one of triplets, was born on a farm in Pott Row near King's Lynn. Mr Fulcher managed to free it from the string and bottle fed it until it could eventually return to its mother.

Mr Fulcher was so angry that he contacted Marks & Spencer to make the company aware of what had happened.

He said: "I was just very cross that this had happened to the lamb, it could have died, especially if I had not been around. I am pleased that Marks & Spencer are now banning the balloons, I did not want compensation, I just wanted to make sure it didn't happen again."

A spokesman for Marks & Spencer said: "We were extremely sorry to hear about this distressing incident and have apologised to Mr Fulcher directly. We have been phasing out the use of promotional balloons in line with our environment commitment, but we have now banned their use with immediate affect to ensure that this cannot happen again."

Mr Fulcher added: "We haven't named the lamb, but he is quite a celebrity and I am not sure I can get rid of him now. If my wife Karen has her way, we will keep him.