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Model village's football streaker removed after complaints

Stuart RustSouth of England
Timothy Welstead A close up of a football pitch with miniature model players. A figure of a topless blonde-haired woman can be seen running across the pitch. Timothy Welstead
The model depicted a shirtless woman in jeans running onto a football pitch in Godshill Model Village

A figure of a football-pitch streaker has been removed from a model village after complaints it was inappropriate.

The streaker - a figure of a shirtless woman in jeans dashing onto a pitch and interrupting a football match - was part of Godshill Model Village, on the Isle of Wight, for many years.

But she has not been part of the display this season after some visitors said it was not appropriate for a family attraction.

Penny Dyer, director of the model village, said the character was intended as a "light-hearted joke" but had been removed following the negative feedback.

Timothy Welstead A wide shot of a football match scene in a model village. Players in red and blue strips can be seen dotted around the pitch. At the far end, the streaker can be seen invading the pitch.Timothy Welstead
The streaker had been part of the model village for years

"It's also fair to say that streaking was very much a feature of a different era," she added.

"It is far less common and is no longer something that younger visitors recognise, so the model has lost much of its original relevance.

"As a business we listen to customer feedback and, after considering the comments, we decided to remove her."

Dyer said she had also received messages from people supporting the reinstatement of the streaker - but that her aim was to ensure all visitors felt comfortable and enjoyed their visit.