The owner of a pet monkey has told of his sadness after council bosses banned it from his back yard.

Chutney, a computer-crazy capuchin, was banished to Wales after council officials booted him out of Stephen Morgan's garden.

The capuchin monkey had become part of the family and even had his own PlayStation control pad after aping Mr Morgan's son Samuel, five.

Yesterday, officials at Adur District Council turned down an appeal by Mr Morgan and decreed Chutney was not allowed to live in an enclosure in his Southwick garden.

Mr Morgan said he was depressed by the committee's decision not to grant him a licence to keep a wild and dangerous animal and he could not afford to take the appeal to magistrates court.

He said: "I had so much support from my friends, neighbours and people who read about the case in The Argus but the council seems to have made the decision before I even went in.

"I think it was worried other people would start getting weird and wonderful animals if it let Chutney through."

Mr Morgan, 35, of Manor Hall Road, had spent £7,000 buying Chutney and getting an enclosure ready.

Councillor Melanie Blunden, chairwoman of the sub-committee which refused the licence, said: "The council wasn't satisfied it is not contrary to public interest on the grounds of safety or nuisance.

"We are not satisfied because of your inexperience with this species that you are a suitable person to hold a licence."