keen gardener Tony Lovell wanted nothing more than to brighten up the communal area outside his council flat.

He said housing officials were only too happy to agree when he asked permission to put in a bed of colourful plants outside his flat in Pashley Court, Surry Street, Shoreham.

Next-door neighbour Val Johnston said she had also been given the green light when she asked if she could do the same a few months before the Lovells.

Over the past few years Tony, 40, and his wife Betty, 52, have added a small water feature and a few planters to the area.

They even set up a garden bench so other tenants could enjoy the garden they had created.

Now council bosses have given the Lovells and Mrs Johnston seven days to dig it all up.

Housing officer Lorraine Hughes sent a letter ordering them to restore the communal garden outside their flats to its original, plain condition.

Mr Lovell, who only has one arm, said: "Because I am disabled I cannot work and doing this little bit of gardening gives me a lot of satisfaction.

"We have made it clear to other tenants that they can come and sit down here whenever they want.

Mrs Johnston said: "I asked the housing department for permission when we moved in four years ago and they were quite happy about it."

An Adur District Council spokeswoman said there was no record of Mr Lovell or Mrs Johnston being given permission.

She said they had effectively created private gardens on communal land meant for all tenants.

She said: "There have been complaints from other residents. It began with a few plants but Mr Lovell has also introduced an illuminated water feature and other things."