A printing firm from Helston is encouraging everyone to get the T-shirt and wear it in protest against the |so-called “pasty tax”.

Brian Curtis and his partner Anne Williams, of Harlequin Design, have been getting hot and bothered about the introduction of 20 per cent VAT being added to the sale of hot takeaway food – dubbed the ‘pasty tax’ because pasties, which are the lifeblood of Cornwall, will be among the products hit.

The couple, whose business is based on the St John’s Business Park, have now produced a range of T-shirts and stickers in protest against the tax, which they are selling for charity.

Both items carry the slogan “Say ‘No’ To Pasty Tax” and the St Piran flag.

There are 100 T-shirts being sold for £4 and 100 car/window stickers for £1. Every penny will go to charities supported by Helston Rotary Club, which Brian is a member of.

He said: “We’re mainly doing it because we are pasty eaters and we hate this pasty tax that it looks like they’re bringing in.

“What’s going to happen to all these wonderful local places [selling pasties]?

“It’s really going to hit, particularly in the recession, when we want people to come and buy pasties and see what great value for money we give in Cornwall.”

Both the T-shirts – available in either large or extra large – and stickers can be bought direct from Harlequin Design on the St Johns Business Park, Penzance Road.

The company is limiting the purchase to one T-shirt and one sticker per person and payment should be in cash.