Another great story I caught on the radio today was of a Gaudi-inspired shop front which has been installed by a store owner on Muswell Hill High Street in North London.

Evidently the local council are unhappy because the owner, Chris Ostwald, did not receive planning permission before installing it. They claim it is too curvy for the High Street, which is, for no immediately discernible reason, a conservation area. Quite what there is to preserve is anyone's guess - as with just about all British high streets, most of the shop fronts will be daubed with the familiar gaudy logos of fast food franchises and chain stores.

Ostwald has set up a petition, advertised in his front window with the slogan: "If you want this replaced by a McDonald's, don't sign our petition.".