A COUPLE were banned from taking photographs of their baby daughter on a swing by a park warden who declared it `inappropriate.'

Steve Brook and partner Mandy Smith were having a family day out with 11-month-old Rebecca when the council worker swooped.

"It beggars belief," said Steve, 35. "The fact that a mummy and daddy can't take a picture of their own daughter is ridiculous. I could understand if it was in a swimming pool, but she was well wrapped-up and as far as I could see we were the only people in the park."

Town hall officials said the warden had misinterpreted council policy when he confronted the family at Alexandra Park in Oldham.

But Phil Woolas, MP for Oldham East and Saddleworth, said: "Based on these reports I am thinking of introducing a Bill to Parliament called The Common Sense Act 2007.

"We are in danger of becoming so adverse to risk we will lose sight of common sense."

Steve, an off-licence manager from Clarksfield in Oldham said: "A man in a high-visibility jacket came over and told us we couldn't take pictures. I asked him why and he said it was illegal to take pictures of children in the park. I explained it was my own daughter but he still said it wasn't allowed."

A council official said: "We are committed to ensuring that all our parks are safe and welcoming places for all visitors. To ensure this happens staff are instructed to be observant and aware of the activities of park users and consider whether they are appropriate.

"This incident was due to the incorrect interpretation of policy by a member of our security staff who has since been made aware of his actions."

There are no national guidelines banning parents from taking photographs of children in parks.

The first serious attempt to ban photographs of children in public was made in March this year at Vale of Glamorgan council in south Wales.

The council proposed `that no photographs, filming or other imaging shall take place of children or young people in parks and open spaces without written permission.'

Councillors threw out the proposal, saying it would be too difficult to enforce and that parents shouldn't need permission for pictures of family picnics.