Support floods in for lemonade stand girl, 5, fined by council workers

Andre Spicer's daughter was slapped with a fine after selling lemonade in her street. Photo / Getty

A 5-year-old girl who hit the headlines after her homemade lemonade stand was shut down by the council has received dozens of offers to set up stalls at other events.

Andre Spicer, a business school professor, let his daughter set up a stand near their home to sell refreshments to people heading to the Lovebox music festival in Victoria Park, east London, last weekend.

But after half an hour four council officials told the pair to shut up shop and slapped Prof Spicer with a £150 ($260) fine as he held his sobbing daughter in his arms.

Andre Spicer, father of 5-year-old girl who was stopped by council officers from selling home-made lemonade, talks to a reporter in London. Photo / AP

Took 5 year old daughter to end of our road to run lemonade stand. Fined £180. She's now sobbing, 'I did a bad thing'. Thx @TowerHamletsNow

— André Spicer (@andre_spicer) July 15, 2017

Tower Hamlets Council has since cancelled the fine and hand-delivered a note to the family's home to apologise.

Andre Spicer, a New Zealander with an Australian partner, recently tweeted: "We have been overwhelmed by the kind response from people across the world.

"Dozens of festivals, markets and businesses have offered us the opportunity to set up a lemonade stand."

Among those extending the offers was London's Borough market which tweeted the girl's father:

@andre_spicer in all seriousness, would your daughter like to sell some lemonade at Borough Market? We'd love to make that happen for her 💚

— Borough Market (@boroughmarket) July 22, 2017

Lee Fest: Neverland has also invited the little girl to sell lemonade at its August festival in Kent.

While Spicer's daughter is not currently too keen on another lemonade stall, even with a permit, he wants to encourage other parents to get their children outside.

"As all childhood research tells us, often they learn through doing things and getting out there," he said.

"Doing something is often far better than any other kind of learning experience."