It is reported that Brighton and Hove City Council is starting legal proceedings against Olive Taylor, aged 78, that could result in her being evicted from the house she has lived in for nearly 70 years (The Argus, June 13)

This is on the grounds of "several" complaints about the outward and visible signs of her sterling work for charity, namely her allegedly unsightly front garden.

Her next-door neighbour is reported to be unconcerned about this "problem". I live 200 yards from Olive and am not concerned about it either.

Council leader Ken Bodfish lives as close to Olive as I do and I call on him to exercise some leadership right now and pull the plug on these legal proceedings.

To raise the huge amounts for charity she has in the past, Olive must have been doing what she is doing now for many years without interference.

If the council is determined to interfere now (I cannot believe it does not have more important issues to tackle), and to stop Olive doing her charitable work from her home of 70 years, let them start by finding Olive somewhere else to continue her work.

There must be any number of vacant and suitable properties that Olive could be allowed to use. The next time she raises enough money to buy another guide dog for the blind, Ken and company could be photographed with her, and bathe in her reflected glory.

Or maybe Olive could just donate the guide dog to the council itself, which is showing clear signs of blindness.

As for the complainers, if you are my neighbours, I invite you to feel thoroughly ashamed of yourselves and to consider moving to Bognor Regis or Bexhill-on-Sea as soon as possible. We do not want you in Brighton and Hove.

-John Flood-Paddock, Brighton