A HARWOOD resident has ordered to pay more than £2,000 after refusing to cut down a hedge.

David Lyons, of Longsight was first asked to trim the conifer hedge in his back garden more than three years ago.

His next door neighbour James Davies, 81, said the five metre tall hedge was blocking out light from his back garden.

Eventually, Mr Davies spoke to Bolton Council and Lyons was served a remedial notice, which ordered him to cut the hedge between May 22 and June 29 2018.

Representing himself at Bolton Magistrates' Court, Lyons cited a number of reasons to why the hedge was still there, including nesting birds and having the wrong equipment.

Despite pleading guilty to failure to take action in accordance with a remedial notice on November 28, Lyons also claimed that he did not live at the house.

The 60-year-old said: "It’s not my home, it’s my ex-wife’s home and we’ve been divorced for nine years, but I was offering to cut the hedge down as a favour.

"When I first went to cut the hedge, there were birds nesting in it. Recently I managed to cut down two big branches but the problem is I only have a reciprocating saw, so I can’t cut it if it’s raining or wet.

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Victoria Cartmell, representing Bolton Council said: "This is all quite disingenuous.

"When he pleaded guilty, he assured the court it would be resolved by now and while steps have been taken but it’s certainly not compliant."

Lyons was fined £1,000, as well as ordered to pay £1,000 worth of costs to Bolton Council and a victim surcharge of £100.

Mr Davies explained his reasons for wanting the hedge to be trimmed and admitted he was shocked by just how much Lyons will now have to pay.

He said: "It's just a case of having somewhere nice to sit when there's sun.

"I've tried to tell him it would just be cheaper to hire a chainsaw and do it than go through the courts.

"He still has to cut it or have it cut and it could have all been done for the sake of £80. It's shocking really."