Organisers of a carnival event have called in the police following a backlash - after they announced this year's 'queen' would be a 16-year-old boy.
Ringwood Carnival bosses have now withdrawn the announcement that the youngster would be leading proceedings after online trolls hit out at the 'woke, ideological' decision.
Last year, it named a 16-year-old girl as 'carnival queen', and she was paraded through the streets on a horse-drawn carriage.
Following trolling, organisers have instead appointed the boy, named only as James, as a carnival 'ambassador' - and called in Hampshire Police to assess the viability of threats of 'disruption and abusive language'.