According to Derby Telegraph, Charles Bridges and his wife, Katie Tomkinson, said they were “baffled” when Derby Homes told them to remove their Christmas wreath by 18th December because it posed a fire hazard.

The housing association wrote in a letter that the wreath would be disposed of if the couple did not remove it themselves.

Bridges told the newspaper the situation was “safety gone mad”.

“I’m a Christian and I should be allowed to decorate my house with Christmas decorations,” he said.

“The wreath doesn’t contain lights, there’s no electricity involved at all so I can’t understand why it’s a fire risk.”

He added that he was “gobsmacked” that the wreath could be taken away and after challenging the housing association’s rule, it responded that it has always been its policy.

A spokesman for Derby Homes told Derby Telegraph that the couple’s front door opens onto a communal stairwell and entrance and most of the communal areas in the properties it manages don’t have fire detection or extinguishing systems fitted.

He added: “The policy requires the communal corridors, landings and stairwells of properties to be designated a “clear zone” (sterile area), free of all extraneous items.

“We realise that it may seem over the top to be demanding removal of these decorations as many may seem harmless and to pose little risk. Allowing specific items whilst denying others presents a larger management problem, given the number of flats we manage.”

The spokesman…

The “In Christ Alone” creators and their touring band performed their modern hymns and led guests in traditional carol singing at the Vice President’s residence.

The musical married couple from Northern Ireland also brought their Christmas tour to the the John F Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Opera House for a sold-out performance of “Sing! An Irish Christmas”.

They led thousands of guests in traditional carol singing along with classical violinist David Kim and jazz bassist John Patitucci.

Vice President Mike Pence and his wife were also amongst the crowd.

The Sing! Tour is part of a global initiative aimed at reviving congregational singing. The Getty’s next stop is Carnegie Hall in New York City.

He had recently been hospitalised in Rome after falling ill.

Law (pictured below, meeting Pope Benedict XVI) was once one of the most important leaders in the US church, helping to set priorities for the nation’s bishops, and was favoured by Pope John Paul II.

But in January 2002, The Boston Globe began a series of reports that used church records to reveal that Law had transferred abusive clergy among parishes for years, without alerting parents or police.

Within months, Catholics around the country demanded to know whether their bishops had done the same.

Law tried to manage the mushrooming scandal in his own archdiocese by first refusing to comment, then apologising and promising reform.

But thousands more church records were released describing new cases of how Law and others expressed more care for accused priests than for victims.

Amid a groundswell against the cardinal, including rare public rebukes from some of his own priests, Law asked to resign and the pope said yes.

“It is my fervent prayer that this action may help the archdiocese of Boston to experience the healing, reconciliation and unity which are so desperately needed,” Law said when he stepped down as head of the Boston archdiocese in December of that year.

“To all those who have suffered from my shortcomings and mistakes, I both apologise and from them beg forgiveness.”

It was a stunning fall from grace for Law and a rare step for the…

Major League Baseball pitcher Cole Hamles and his wife Heidi gave the property – along with 100 acres of land – located on Table Rock Lake in the US state of Missouri, to Camp Barnabas.

The Texas Rangers player said: “There are tons of amazing charities in Southwest Missouri; out of all of these, Barnabas really pulled on our heartstrings.

“Seeing the faces, hearing the laughter, reading the stories of the kids they serve; there is truly nothing like it.

“Barnabas makes dreams come true, and we felt called to help them in a big way.”

During the last 24 years, Camp Barnabas has welcomed more than 75,000 people to its camps, which help young people with special needs and chronic illnesses as well as their siblings.

CEO, Jason Brawner said: “Our mission is to change lives through disability ministry, and we’ve been strategically looking for ways to expand our ministry outside of a summer camp.

“We have no doubt that this gift will allow us to do just that.”

Cole and Heidi Hamels added: “We love that Barnabas sees the bigger picture; they are changing the way the world sees disability ministry.”