A couple have been warned they could face prosecution for feeding birds in their re-wilded garden amid a "27-year vendetta" with their neighbours.
Stephen Atkinson-Jones and his wife Caroline have dubbed their next door neighbours "the Glums" after they complained to local authorities about the bird feed that was attracting seagulls.
The couple enhance nature in "studied neglect" which involves letting their trees and plants grow freely at their home near Bexhill-on-Sea, East Sussex.
Stephen claims neighbours Keith Edwards and his wife Pauline protested to the council over the daily bird routine which has seen the Atkinson-Jones throw pieces of dog biscuits into the garden at 8am to feed gulls for the last 20 years.
A couple have been warned they could face prosecution for feeding birds in their re-wilded garden amid a "27-year vendetta" with their neighbours
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The couple say they feed other types of birds in addition to the seagulls which they claim is what other neighbours do.
However, a complaint to Rother District Council has put an end to the daily feeding routine.
Last August, they were visited by an environmental health officer following allegations they were "causing a nuisance due to persistent bird feeding".
But further complaints and evidence of "persistent bird feeding and nuisance" meant a formal "community protection warning" under the Anti-Social Behaviour Crime and Policing Act 2014 was issued.
NEIGHBOURS FROM HELL:
A letter described their actions as "causing excessive noise and excrement on a neighbouring property".
The couple were warned that they "could be prosecuted" if they failed to comply with the notice.
The Atkinson-Jones were told they could only use bird feeders designed for birds smaller than a pigeon.
"I really feel we are being bullied here. How can it be anti-social behaviour and unreasonable behaviour when only one person with a history of complaining against us complains?" Stephen told the Daily Mail.
The complaint has been the latest in a long series of issues between the neighbours.
The couple say they feed other types of birds in addition to the seagulls which they claim is what other neighbours do
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It was previously alleged that Stephen, who owns five properties rented through a letting agent, was illegally running a business from home.
Other complaints included accusations of smoky bonfires in their garden, putting a window back in an outbuilding that had been boarded up, trees and bushes from their property over-hanging a road and feeding animals such as badgers.
Stephen added: "Some of these have been recurring over the years and not just a one-off. It's all petty but it feeds into your wellbeing.
"There is a horrible feeling of unease - you are just waiting for them to report you for something. It upsets my wife a lot."
In response, neighbour Keith said: "I am not prepared to comment."
