Shaun Mulholland

Published by Sarah Yeoman at 1:34pm 13th July 2020. (Updated at 12:24pm 14th July 2020)

A Cornish pub has installed an electric fence at its bar to help keep people socially distanced.

The Star Inn in St Just, near Penzance, says it wanted to make sure punters follow the guidelines as it reopened.

So landlord Johnny McFadden, who is also a farmer, decided to put the electric fence up to help keep both staff and customers safe.

He says it is all a bit of fun and the fence is turned off, so people won't be electrocuted if they accidentally touch it.

Johnny told Pirate FM that it's definitely doing the job, as people stay away from it just like sheep do!

Shaun Mulholland

"I didn't open up until last Friday, and when I put everything in place I looked at the bar and thought 'how am I going to get around this and keep people back from here'. I looked out at my truck, I'm a farmer, and I thought 'I know I'll put the electric fence up there'.

"Social distancing is in and I found it very hard to apply it in the bar because it's so small, so I thought i'll put the electric fence in, everyone knows what an electric fence is, we're a rural community, and everybody will keep away from it, and they do.

"It started out as a bit of a joke and it's just gone mad."

Johnny McFadden, landlord at The Star Inn, St Just