CHILDREN can’t play conkers, hanging baskets are dangerous and it’s unsafe to hang up Christmas decorations in the office.

‘Hazards’ such as these have become stumbling blocks for every generation in the modern day, but now councils across Kent are taking steps to stamp out health and safety scaremongering and encourage a sensible approach to risk assessment.

Kent County Council has joined forces with 13 local councils and the Health and Safety Executive for the Sign up to Sensible Risk project.

It aims to protect staff, employers and the public from real hazards, instead of trivial concerns of no real threat but that take up precious time and resources.

KCC Chief Executive Peter Gilroy said: "I recently read that a school had to cancel its Pancake Day race because of health and safety worries, which is a perfect example of how people fear what they believe the rules to be.

“Here in Kent, we have made the biggest regional commitment to battle against the urban legends and fears that swamp health and safety."

KCC was joined by representatives from Ashford, Canterbury, Dartford, Dover, Gravesham, Maidstone, Medway, Sevenoaks, Shepway, Swale, Thanet, Tonbridge and Malling and Tunbridge Wells for the project’s launch.

HSE Regional Director for the South East Phil Scott said: “We’ve all heard the stories about health and safety banning hanging baskets or making children wear goggles to play conkers.

“This is not what we are about – it is not what HSE wants, not what Kent wants and not what the law requires."