Controversial: A No Eastern Europeans sign at a Warwickshire fishery has been branded racist (Picture: NTI)

A Warwickshire fishery owner has defended a sign banning eastern Europeans from using his lake after it was branded racist.

Eddie Whitehead put up the bright orange and green notice, which reads ‘No Eastern Europeans’, at his Dog Lane fishery in Napton-on-the-Hill following a spate of fish thefts.

The sign drew complaints when a passer-by spotted it while walking through the fishing complex with his children over the Easter weekend and reported it to the police.

‘It’s bizarre, backward and racist,’ the walker, who did not want to be identified, said. ‘It’s the sort of thing you’re shocked to see in this day and age.’




Mr Whitehead has rejected calls for its removal however, claiming it was the only thing to ‘prevent eastern Europeans stealing fish’.

‘I am sure they are eastern Europeans,’ he said. ‘I’ve had no problems with people from other countries.

‘I may be breaking the law, but it’s [my] livelihood. I’ve just re-stocked the lake with £9,600 of carp.

‘Every fishery has the same problem. They are breaking the law in England because they are pinching the fish.’

Warwickshire county councillor John Appleton said any case of theft should be reported to the police.

‘If he’s had fish stolen, he should report it to the police instead of putting the sign up.’