Old soldier James Lawes has been losing sleep over the bird tables in his garden.

The 78-year-old, who flew on bombers during the Second World War, is now coming under regular bombardment from the flocks of seagulls that gather each day outside his home in Lewes.

He was angered when three bird tables were placed in the garden of Leighside House, the sheltered accommodation block where he lives.

Now every morning before the sun rises, he goes outside and moves his car, to ensure it doesn't need a good washing by breakfast time.

However, his irritation over the birds has sparked a row with his neighbours.

Fellow residents have signed a petition, asking for him to be kicked out of Leighside.

They say he refuses to talk to his neighbours and his manner has left many of the elderly residents wary of him.

Residents sent Mr Lawes a Christmas card showing a group of birds shovelling snow from a bird table.

Inside they wrote, "Please see the funny side of this."

Mr Lawes did not like the joke.

He was no more amused by the RSPB pamphlets sent to him anonymously.

The former taxi driver said: "Food is thrown out continually. Sometimes they top up the bird tables six times a morning. It's filled up like a conveyor belt.

"At times I've seen 30 seagulls on the roof and 15 flying around the building."

The saga has been going on for almost two years and Mr Lawes said he has complained constantly to Leighside House owners, the Guinness Trust.

He said: "The Guinness Trust has rules against harassment and nuisance but it says I'm the only one complaining.

"That is because I'm the only one with a car.

"I'm worn out. I'm too old to wash my car every night. "

Neighbour Leslie McLachlan, 80, said Mr Lawes had done nothing but complain since moving to Leighside.

The former Environment Agency employee said: "This is a lovely place to live but he won't talk to any of us.

"He has refused all offers of mediation but I'm quite happy to talk to him to tell him what an idiot he is.

"He goes from one complaint to another, any little excuse he can get.

"He is a control freak who just wants to run the place.

"Almost everyone has signed the petition saying more or less that they want him thrown out for being obnoxious."

A spokeswoman for the Guinness Trust said Mr Lawes had been offered mediation between himself and the trust and other residents.

She said: "We do have a complaints system, which has a number of stages.

"He has gone to stage two but if he takes it a further stage his case will go before a regional board.

"Anyone who is not happy with its decision can then go to the ombudsman.

"We have also received a petition from a large number of the other residents, who are complaining about Mr Lawes' own conduct."