STORY: Young baker overthrows market ban after being backed by thousands of customers

George’s Bakery has now been allowed to return to a Cambridgeshire market after being banned for making a joke online that included the word machete.

The comment, which was intended to be taken as satire, came after a disagreement with the council over the location of George Hepher’s extremely popular stall in St Ives' town market. He wanted to move as the sun was melting his cakes, but the council were unable to move him.

George and his customers took to Facebook to complain, writing on that the public should bring “banners, megaphones and machetes” to protest.

But the remark prompted St Ives' Town Council to contact the police and complain that he was inciting violence.

St Ives Town Council say they took the matter “extremely seriously” and banned him from having a stall at St Ives Cambs Farmers Market.

George started a petition, which he presented to the council, asking it to revoke its decision, which it has now done.

The support for George was significant, with some supporters even saying they’ve stopped going to the market as a result of the decision.

“George is a very talented baker and without him on the market there is no point visiting the market”, said one.

Another agreed and said: “I've stopped going to the market now George isn't there.”

Someone wrote: “We love George! His cakes are by far the best we have ever bought and he is a genuinely lovely person who definitely brings joy to my cake buying days.”

At the time a St Ives Town Council spokesman said: “In the current climate of knife crime, there is the chance someone may have read the uncensored comment, not considered it to be a joke and acted on it.”