A three-year-old boy was banned from having his name Rooney iced on an Easter egg due to fears of copyright.

A family friend attempted to buy the youngster, who is named after Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney, a treat from chocolate shop Thorntons.

However, staff at the shop in Bury town centre refused to ice his name onto the chocolate egg due to concerns that they could be violating the England footballer's copyright.

The boy's mother Jo-anne Scholes, of Rochdale, told the Manchester Evening News: "It's just pathetic that they wouldn't let a child have his name on an Easter egg for fear of upsetting Wayne Rooney. I can't imagine Wayne Rooney would care less."

The shop eventually compromised by icing his full name Rooney Scholes on the chocolate.