This is silly. How did this even make news? Dave, may I borrow your ?

British city council bans doormats over safety concerns

LONDON (AFP) - Residents in government-funded housing in Bristol, western England, are up in arms over a decision by their local city council to ban doormats because they pose a "tripping hazard" for anyone escaping a fire, The Guardian reported.

Bristol city council has set a deadline of September 18 for tenants in communal dwellings to comply with the request, in a letter addressed to the residents living in the council's 32,000 properties.

"During a routine health and safety inspection of the block, it was noted that loose mats were present in hallways or corridors outside people's flats," the newspaper quoted the letter to tenants as saying.

"These represent a 'tripping hazard' and should be removed immediately. By all means have your own mats inside your front door, but please do not leave them outside, creating a risk to others."

If the doormats are not removed by the September 18 deadline, the letter says: "Any mat remaining ... will be removed and subsequently disposed of."

Some residents are not taking the letter lightly, however, and The Guardian quoted Roger Perry, 62, as refusing to comply with the deadline.

"This is absolutely ludicrous. It is so pointless. The council says mats are a hazard."

"God knows how.

"The way the flats are arranged -- three on each side of the lift on every floor -- it's only you and the postman who walk on the mats anyway."