Concerned about rowdiness and anti-social behaviour, Mayor Luigi Bobbio of the Italian seaside town of Castellammare di Stabia has gotten it into his head that the best course of action is to ban miniskirts.

There will also be a ban on sunbathing, playing football in public places, and blasphemy, if the proposals are approved at a council meeting on Monday.

The mayor is making use of powers handed down by Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi’s government and which have led to even more bizarre regulations elsewhere.

In other places they have banned sandcastles, kissing in cars, feeding stray cats, wooden clogs and the use of lawn mowers at weekends.

How long before they start banning music, dancing and other unIslamicChristian values?