On a strict interpretation of the law it seems to me that anybody who sings or plays an instrument in a public place, such as a coffee bar or a shop is doing something which requires a Public Entertainment Licence.

The two-in-a-bar exemption just means that, in a pub, up to two people are allowed to "perform" without a PEL being needed. Anywhere else even one person is sufficient to require the licence.

Pretty well the only other exception is church services. So leaving aside carol services in church, carol singers in public places, such as the street or in pubs, are pretty clearly in breach of the law. So are Rugby Players singing Rugby songs, whether in a pub or elsewhere. (All right some might say a bloody good job too - but those might be handy guys to have on our side. I'd love to see council officers trying to stop a bunch of rugger buggers.)

For that matter I would think this would apply to Football Crowds when they sing, since so far as I am aware football grounds would not have this kind of PEL. (After all, this is considered entertaining enough for them to put out records of such singing sometimes.)

Stupid laws survive because sensible people don't bother to enforce them. When stupid people start enforcing them and claim that they are obliged to do so, they should be obliged to do so across the board.

So what plans does Weymouth have to stop Carol Singers? I think they should be asked. Maybe when they reply to those emails and letters explaining how they have to enforce the law, and don't have any discretion on the matter.

Keep those emails going in. When Shambles sees the Chief Executive on Thursday 23rd wouldn't it be nice if the man had been snowed under by polite but emphatic messages from all over the planet?