Health and safety officials have ordered a couple to cut their lavender flowers because someone could get the "nasty shock of a face full of foliage".

Simon Hinks and Fiona Roberts, of Balfour Road, Brighton, returned from holiday last weekend to find a council notice telling them to cut the plants in their front garden.

If they failed to do so the council said it would carry out the work and charge them for it.

Mr Hinks, who works at Varndean College, said: "We were astounded. The plants don't exceed the width of the wheelie bins the council has placed all the way up the road but they seem to think a few lavender flowers cause a greater danger to the public."

Ms Roberts added: "I would have thought at a time of serious cuts in essential services the council would have better ways to employ their officers."

The plants have been in their front garden for at least the 14 years since they moved to the street and they say they have never had any complaints from the public.

There is a gap of 1.8m between the contested lavender and the kerb - wide enough for pushchairs to pass.

The couple said many passers-by had stopped to say how nice they look and smell. Their neighbours were also shocked when they heard about the council order.

One, who asked not be named, said: "One of the nice things about this area of the city is that there are so many plants and flowers around, often over-hanging people's front walls.

“Now the council is ordering locals to cut them back and leave bare brick and stone in their place."

The council's guidelines recommend a minimum clearance for vegetation of 8ft above the pavement and nothing over-hanging the kerb line.

Mr Hinks and Ms Roberts pointed out Balfour Road was lined with council-maintained trees that contravened its regulations.

Mr Hinks said: "We don't want them to get rid of the trees of course but neither do we want them telling us how to tend our own gardens."

A council spokesman said because the gardens in the road were raised the borders were often planted at head height to people on the pavement.

He said: "We had a complaint from a blind person that overhanging shrubs are a nuisance and a hazard. They can easily provide the nasty shock of a face full of foliage for someone who cannot see."

Everyone with overhanging plants in Balfour Road was given a letter asking them to trim them once they had flowered this season.

The council spokesman said: “While it can be a shame to have to cut plants back we hope homeowners understand they’re doing a good deed for people who cannot see well.”