A PENSIONER is being taken to court – over a fish pond in his back garden.

Retired Bryan Crawley, 66, even moved the water feature to avoid any trouble, after Rochford District Council issued him with a court summons for trespassing.

Mr Crawley, a former events organiser, made the Old Fire Station, in High Street, Great Wakering, his home ten years ago.

He later built a pond at the back of the building, near a public toilet adjacent to his property.

The council wants to redevelop the toilet block and sent a letter to Mr Crawley, accusing him of stopping their work.

He said: “It just seems daft. My solicitor said this is to do with where the fish pond has been built, but they didn’t need to send out a court summons.”

A line is painted at the front of the house to show the boundary with the loos, but at the back it is unclear where the boundary is.

Mr Crawley said: “There is a thick line on the plans where the boundary is, but it is not exactly clear where it is. It could be under the pond or next to it.

“The council isn’t even sure which bit of land is theirs, so, to avoid any doubt, I moved the fish pond.”

Mr Crawley, whose case will be heard next week at the county court, said the land is just two-and-a-half metres by eight metres.

He said: “The summons includes statements by the head of Rochford legal services declaring that, by way of the trespass, I have been holding up urgent refurbishment and building work to the toilets, which should have started at the beginning of July.”

Albert Bugeja, the council’s head of legal services, said: “There is a dispute as to the ownership of the land. If an agreement cannot be reached, the matter will need to be determined by the court.”