A popular pub has been forced to remove cult show cartoons from its windows, writes NICK EVANS.

The South Park pub in Cowley Road, Oxford - formerly the Ampney Cottage - was given a new lease of life by becoming a shrine to the American TV cartoon - which features the catchphrase "Oh, my God, they've killed Kenny!".

But the pub's owners, Witney-based Wychwood Breweries, were shocked when they received a letter from the show's lawyers in London, telling them to get rid of the figures in the windows.

Pub manager Glen Glenister said: "The pub's called South Park because of its location near to South Park in Headington but, of course, it was cashing in on the cartoon. We got into trouble for using the characters from the show and had to take them out of the window. They can't stop us using the name, though." A spokesman for the Hobgoblin pub chain, owned by Wychwood Breweries, said: "Putting the characters in the window was simply intended as a bit of fun. As soon as we received a letter from the company acting on behalf of the show, the characters were removed."

Last year, Oxford City Council received thousands of inquiries on its Internet site from people thinking Headington's South Park was connected with the cartoon.

Story date: Wednesday 07 April

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