Councilors from the small town of Tuszyn in Central Poland are locked in debate on whether Winnie the Pooh should grace their public playground or not.

Their point of contention stems from Pooh's inappropriate attire and dubious sexuality, which they believe may not serve as good model for their children.

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The unusual debate was secretly recorded by an attendee of the council meeting and subsequently leaked to media.

In the recorded conversation, Tuszyn Councilor Ryszard Cichy was heard pointing out that the problem with the silly old bear - as Pooh is fondly referred to by Christopher Robin in the Hundred Acre Woods animated classic - is his 'incomplete wardrobe'.

The Winnie the Pooh character was created by British author A.A. Milne in the 1920s as a simple-minded but kind-hearted bear that roamed around in a red shirt and nothing more.

By contrast, Poland's fictional bear character called Miz Uzatek is completely dressed from head to toe. Cichy suggested fielding Miz Uzatek on the planned playground instead of Pooh.

The trademark half-naked Pooh bear, whose only known vice is binging on jars and jars of honey, has been adored by generations of children since, even in Poland.

But this time, Pooh seemed to have tripped on some rough patches as councilors questioned even its sexuality.

"It doesn't wear underpants because it doesn't have a sex," said one councilor who denounced Pooh as a 'hermaphrodite'. He probably meant androgynous.

Canadian Mayor Brian Bowman of Winnipeg, from where Winnie the Pooh got its name, cried foul over the treatment of the well-loved cartoon character.

"Note that the beloved Disney characters Donald Duck and Chip and Dale are also pant-less, Mickey Mouse doesn't wear a shirt, and Tony the Tiger is nearly nude. Should they be banned as well?," he said.

Bowman said he hopes Winnie the Pooh would continue to inspire children on such virtues as kindness and friendship.

Walt Disney bought the A.A. Milne storybook in 1961 and turned it into an animated series where the adventures of Pooh, best friend Piglet, bouncy Tigger, pessimistic Eeyore, Rabbit, Kanga and Rooh in their fantasy home, The Hundred Acre Woods, have kept millions of children company in their growing years.

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