THE council in Oxford has tried to introduce an order forcing buskers to smile at all times while performing.

The Public Space Protection Order was meant to tackle anti-social behaviour, but it also said that buskers must “smile, enjoy yourself and entertain others”.

Non-smilers could have ended up with a £1,000 fine.

However, musicians organised a 5,000-name petition against the move, and lawyers warned that it could breach the buskers' human rights, and so the council has backed down and removed the need to grin.