'Bully' council threatens pensioner, 97, who feeds birds in her garden with a £2,500 fine or court action to force her out of her home if she doesn't stop 'anti-social behaviour' of putting out seeds

A dispute over a 97-year-old woman feeding birds in her back garden has escalated with the 'bullying' council now threatening a £2,500 fine or even court action to force her and her son out of their privately-owned home.

Retired music teacher Anne Seago enjoys the simple pleasure of watching from her conservatory as sparrows and robins feed off seeds on her bird table.

A complaint from a neighbour that she was attracting pigeons and seagulls prompted the council to issue a 'written warning' last November and threaten a £100 fine if the 'anti-social behaviour' doesn't cease.

Now, amid claims the birds are still being fed, Fylde Council has issued her son Alan, 77, who lives with her, with another written warning. This time he is being threatened with a Community Protection Notice (CPN) and a potential fine of £2,500 for 'non-compliance' if the 'anti-social behaviour' doesn't stop immediately.

And in a further threat the council's environmental health department has warned it could take legal action for a 'Civil Injunction and/or a Premises Closure Order', that if granted by magistrates could ultimately force them out of their house in Staining, near Blackpool, for up to three months.

Mr Seago, a retired car salesman, said the latest threats were causing his mother 'more stress' and there were concerns for her health as a result.

Commenting on the council's approach, he said: 'It's disgusting, it's ridiculous and beyond belief. My mum is just stunned and can't believe this is happening.'

He said the cash to pay such a large fine 'could be found if necessary, but not willingly.'

When two council officers visited the property a week ago to deliver the written warning headed 'Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014,' she became tearful and told them 'it's all I've got, I might not be here next year.'

The latest notice states 'your behaviour is unreasonable and is having a detrimental effect on residents and their properties.'

It requires Mr Seago, and presumably his mother, to 'not place large amounts of bird feed' on a bird table to 'attract large flocks of pigeons,' not throw bird feed on to the ground, not throw bird feed on the roof and not throw bird feed outside the property.

It also bans any contact with the next door neighbour who made the complaint – Darren Horne – and warns Mr Seago not to 'cause harassment, alarm or distress.'

Failure to comply could lead to a CPN and 'criminal sanctions,' the council has warned.

The officers even instructed the Seagos to take down the 'I love' birds notice on their window in case it upset the neighbour.

Hanging bird feeders for small wild birds are allowed and they have put out one feeder for the birds – which pigeons are also feeding off.

Mrs Seago and her son claimed Mr Horne, who is in his 50s, has repeatedly blasted out punk music and banged his wheelie bin lid to annoy them. Mr Horne has previously said he banged the lid to scare birds away and he is not the only resident to complain.

Commenting on the dispute, Mr Seago said: 'We are stressed out with it now, it's gone on for years.'

Another neighbour Ian Wright, 67, who has also received a council warning letter, has accused the council of 'bullying an elderly lady'.

He has lodged an official complaint against the actions of Fylde Council with the local government Ombudsman and has been informed that the matter is being investigated.

Mr Wright said his official warning also threatened a £2,500 fine and a Premises Closure Order. 'It's quite worrying really that ordinary citizens are being threatened in this way,' he said. Councillors have been invited to see what is happening for themselves, but none have accepted, he said.

The flock of pigeons at the centre of the dispute are said to have been abandoned in the area by a resident who moved to Spain and released them to fend for themselves.

Closure orders can be sought at a magistrates' court when there has been 'serious nuisance to members of the public' from a premises. It can ban access to the entire building for up to three months at a time.

Fylde Council has been unavailable for comment.