David Pratt was warned he could be slapped with an £80 on-the-spot fine if he is caught wearing the offending garment again – which is emblazoned with the words: Don't p**** me off – I am running out of places to hide the bodies!

The fork-lift truck driver, from Blackmead, Orton Malborne, was collared by Peterborough City Council wardens who told him CCTV had been monitoring him as he shopped in the city's Asda and Poundland stores in the Rivergate/Bridge Street area.

At first Mr Pratt thought they were T-easing him, but he soon realised they were serious when he was threatened with the fine.

His wife Elly, who bought the T-shirt in Venice Beach, Los Angeles, said: "It was so humiliating – there were people gathering round and people rubbernecking to see what was going on.

"I cannot believe anyone would find offence with the wording as it is only worn to make the reader smile."

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The council argues that using offensive, abusive, or insulting language is an offence, which applies also when it appears in print.

Mrs Pratt said she did not consider p**** to be a swear word. She said: "I definitely do not think it is. It is not particularly nice word, but in my view is not a swear word."

However, she says wardens took the view it could offend some people.

Mrs Pratt added: "We told them that the said T-shirt had been worn in town many times and everyone who had commented on it had thought it was very amusing.

"This included two lady police officers who were on duty back last summer when my husband stopped to talk to them."

She said the pair were sitting on a bench just outside Poundland having a smoke because they had just missed the bus, when they were approached by the officials.

She added: "Our argument is not with the Street Wardens as we told them, they are only doing their job.

"I am just concerned that the CCTV operator were looking at our T-shirts when they should be looking out for robbers and shoplifters."

She said since the incident people have been asking where they can buy the T-shirts. "We are thinking about setting up a stall to sell them!," she joked.

A spokesman for Peterborough City Council said: "The incident is the subject of an official complaint to the council and is currently under investigation.

"However, using offensive, abusive, or insulting language is an offence under the Public Order Act, which also applies to such language appearing in print.

"In what was an amicable conversation, the street warden advised the gentleman concerned that his T-shirt could cause offence and if he was to wear it again he could run the risk of being issued an £80 fine from the police."