Kate Palliser, owner of Scarlet shoe shop, in The Traverse, Bury St Edmunds, was threatened with legal action by St Edmundsbury Borough Council if she did not remove the flags and planters outside her shop.

She said: "I was trying to do something to mark the Queen's birthday but the council told us it had to go.

"I am very disappointed – it is bureaucracy gone mad."

Kate, 42, was told by a highways agent for the council the planters were causing an obstruction and she had not applied for a licence.

She said: "I do not think enough is being done to celebrate the Queen's birthday in Bury.

"We have tried to do something to make the shop look pretty but it seems the council is taking things too far."

It was claimed the colourful display of pink camellias and union jacks were posing a danger to passers-by.

Kate has now applied for a licence to keep the planters and is vowing to keep them there for the Queen's official birthday, in June.

Steve Boor, highway controller for the borough council, said: "We have had a couple of complaints about things being in the way.

"If you have poor eyesight then you may well walk into it."
But Mr Boor said exceptions could be made.

"If they are only going to be there for a couple of days for the Queen's birthday, we are not going to take any action.
"But if they are still there next week, we will have to reconsider."

Members of Bury in Bloom, the town's floral competition, had admired the display so much they added a picture of it to their website.

Julia Rackowe, group member, said: "It is very sad when something as beautiful as this must be removed for health and safety reasons."