A beloved Thornbury shop has been forced to alter its outdoor display following a complaint.

L E Riddiford on Thornbury High Street was visited by a member of South Gloucestershire Council's street care team on Monday, August 6.

A line of bird tables had to be moved from their position outside the shop as they posed a health and safety risk.

John Riddiford, who runs the grocery shop with his wife Jackie and son Oliver, said:"It limits how much stuff we can have out there. The shop is crammed up with stuff.

"If we are not selling enough stuff to sustain the business then it can't operate can it?"

A Facebook post from the L. E Riddiford page said: "Is it time for major change, relocation or maybe just call it a day?"

The post has received more than 600 comments and a petition set up in support of the shop has been signed more than 2,600 times.

John has spoken to people as far afield at Canada who wished to share their support.

"It has caused a bit of a storm,we have had messages from all over the world. It just went in to meltdown really."

John's daughter-in-law, Olivia, was one of hundreds who took to Facebook to voice their opinion.

"The front of the shop always looks fab and brings so much colour to the high street. Unfortunately people have to complain about the smallest things.

"We're very proud of the family business," she said.

The shop is famous for being believed to have inspired the sitcom Open All Hours.

Lionel Edmund Riddiford purchased the shop in 1929 and it has been run by members of his family ever since.

Leader of South Gloucestershire Council, Cllr Toby Savage said: “Following any complaint, regardless of nature, the council is obliged to investigate, and in this instance it saw one of our officers visit Riddiford’s.

“The Council remains supportive of our high streets, a prime example being our continued work to ensure parking is free for our shoppers, and had Riddiford’s been asked to remove their entire display, as a resident born and brought up around Thornbury, I would have been among the first to sign the petition.”