A RENOWNED rocking horse maker today slammed as "lunacy" a proposed European law that could put him out of business.

Anthony Dew, of the Rocking Horse Shop, Fangfoss, near York, said toy safety legislation could outlaw all, but the smallest horses.

Section 4.8 of part eight of the EN71 European Standard on toy safety states: "When measured from the ground to any sitting or standing position the maximum free height of fall for carousels and rocking activity toys shall not exceed 600mm." In other words, any indoor toy for a child to ride on which is higher than 600mm (about two feet high) would be outlawed.

"Six hundred millimetres is not much at all in rocking horse standards," said Mr Dew. "Only the very titchy ones would be okay."

The larger horses - the bulk of Mr Dew's work - have a drop of up to one metre.

So the new legislation would see the loss of 11 jobs at Fangfoss.

Mr Dew has been assured that the Government is working to stop the offending section, which is due to become law next month.

The proposal was today denounced by North Yorkshire Euro-MP Robert Goodwill, who has vowed to fight any move to make it law.

He blasted the guideline as "the nanny state going crazy."

He said he would oppose it if it came before the European Parliament.

Updated: 10:34 Thursday, November 27, 2003