More than 6,000 people have signed a petition calling for a binman to be reinstated in his role after he was sacked for kicking the head off a child’s snowman.
Callum Woodhouse lost his job after he was caught volleying a snowman on CCTV during a morning bin run in Tupsley, Hereford.
A three-year-old boy who built the icy figure was left in floods in tears as he watched it get destroyed.
The 19-year-old was stunned when he was relieved from his duties as he tries to support his pregnant girlfriend.
Support for the ex-binman has grown after the story was widely shared over social media.
A petition has now been launched in a bid to get Callum his job back - which has been signed by thousands of people across the UK.
The petition reads: “A binman from Hereford kicked a snowman that was already melting anyway and after a video of it went viral, he got sacked. Really?!
“The guy worked throughout the whole pandemic, risking his own wellbeing and that’s what he gets?! And for what, a pile of snow…grow up and give the man his job back.”
Teen binman Callum has refused to apologise for the incident as he did not think destroying a snowman would hurt anyone’s feelings - but offered to build a new one for the family.
Speaking to the Mirror, he said: “I don’t think I have to say I’m sorry. His family knew it was not going to be there forever.
"The snowman was obstructing my path. I decided to kick it because I didn't think it was going to hurt anyone's feelings. I don’t think that snowmen have feelings.
"It was going to melt and snow again, I didn't think it would make such an impact on a three-year-old kid.”
Herefordshire Council confirmed that the agency worker would no longer be used following the incident.
A spokesperson said: “We are aware of this incident and are disappointed that an individual representing the council would behave in such a manner.
"The employee was a member of agency staff working on behalf of one of the council’s contractors, and he has been informed that he will not be used again.
"Information has also been circulated to all agency employees outlining the professional standards they are expected to uphold when representing a Herefordshire Council contractor.”
