We love reading political-correctness-gone-mad stories here in the RK office, and this story particularly caught our eye today. A mother in Somerset was told by passport officials that a picture of her bare-chested baby son couldn't be used in a passport because it might offend officials in 'fanatical religious countries'.

Tracey Barnes had had to take the top off her nine-month-old son Lewis as he had his passport picture taken, because the baby had just been sick down it. But she was told that the picture would be seen as offensive in certain parts of the world. 'We are going to Greece, Mrs Barnes told The Daily Telegraph. 'It's hardly a hotbed of fundamentalism.'

The Passport Office today was quick to dampen down the story, saying; 'There is no official passport policy relating to displaying bare chests on passport photographs as UK Passport Service require a photograph to show head and shoulders only.'

This storm in a teacup was roundly criticised by the Muslim Council of Great Britain who said it was ridiculous to think that such a picture would be deemed offensive in Muslim countries. 'The Home Office is increasingly imposing ridiculous morality on us without consulting us,' said a council spokesperson.

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