by Tony Halstead
A licensee has found himself embroiled in a race row after putting up a sign banning travellers from his pub.
The Gypsy Council claims that host Ian Briscoe is guilty of race discrimination and should be taken to court.
Briscoe, who runs the Hockery Brook Hotel at Hindley near Wigan, put up the sign after a group of travellers caused repeated trouble at the pub.
The group was banned from the premises after one rowdy drinking session but returned on several occasions to threaten Briscoe and his wife, Hazel.
Briscoe said: 'It was a terrifying experience. We have been licensees for 30 years but have never seen anything like this.
'This is a quiet family pub and the whole episode has really knocked us for six.
The couple reported the incident to police but claim the local force showed little interest.
But now police say criminal proceedings could follow against the Briscoes if discriminatory or offensive material is displayed.
Briscoe said he was dumbstruck when he was told that the sign was illegal and that he could face legal action.
The travellers, who set up camp on a refuse dump a mile from the pub four weeks ago, have now been moved on by Wigan Council and the sign has been removed from outside the pub. 'It's all over now but the whole experience has been a very worrying one for us, Briscoe said.
The Gypsy Council said that although licensees were entitled to ban individuals for causing trouble, to ban a whole race of people was discrimination.
In 1989 the former National Licensed Victuallers Association went to the Court of Appeal to defend the right of licensees to use 'No Travellers signs.
But the court ruled against the association describing travellers as a racial group and stating that the signs could be discriminatory.