A group of box-dwelling frogs in Tring are taking a national newspaper to court over allegations that they share similarities to British fashion-designer Dame Vivienne Westwood.
"It's outrageous!" fumed Jez Fisher, the community's spokesfrog. "A slur on all box-domiciled amphibians, who simply want to get on peaceably with their lives. We're fed up with being compared to the elderly eccentric Dame. Yes we ARE mad - hopping mad!"
This is not the first time that apparently innocent creatures have been sullied with the so-called 'Westwood Simile'. In Australia, Bob, an unrestrained Kangaroo in the top paddock of Melbourne's Flemington racecourse and Tony, a copulating koala that fell out of a eucalyptus tree have both 'suffered the indignity' of Westwood comparison.
Others who have taken umbrage at links with the world-renowned designer include a Milliner (although he later dropped charges as Westwood chose him to work on her range of hats) and an untightened screw.
There is a precedence for the frogs' recourse to legal action. Last month a Picnic hamper manufacturer successfully sued for damages when their product was referenced in a simile with Christine Hamilton. The judge ruled that "The Picnic Company suffered malicious metaphor and simile, simply because of their decision to exclude one extra sandwich and that their delicious fruitcake was laden with many nuts".
Dame Vivienne, who launches a new winter collection in the Paris area of Chaillot next week, was unavailable for comment. Her Press Officer said "She's out to lunch".