The BBC fell for this nonsense

[ciphergoth]

Just so you know: the cheese rolling contest was not cancelled by Health and Safety, nor were kids asked to wear safety goggles to play conkers, nor does anyone ban toothpicks. The BBC reprints it from the comments by the Prime Minister, who gets it from reading the Daily Mail, who sit at their typewriters and make it up.

Lazy BBC hacks repeat Daily Mail ‘elf n safety’ myths

HSE myths page - thanks Pir!