Father-of-three from Hardwicke ordered to pull down treehouse because he didn't have planning permission

Andrew Eddy built the simple den - complete with slide - a year ago so his children Chanikan, 11, Elizabeth, four, and Lewis, two, could have somewhere to play.

He put the basic three-foot high shed on a platform left by the former occupants of his house and added a simple scaffolding frame around it to make it safer.

But the gas engineer was astonished when Stroud District Council told him a neighbour had complained - and issued him with a planning enforcement notice.

Andrew, 43, has received a planning enforcement notice and faces prosecution if the structure is not pulled down in the next two weeks.

"I couldn't believe it - I thought it was a joke,” he said.

“They said anything more than 30cm off the ground needs planning permission.

"It seems as though all common sense has gone out the window and to threaten prosecution is ridiculous.

"We are talking about a treehouse here, a playhouse for children, a temporary structure. They will be devastated if we have to take it down."

A platform was already in the tree when Andrew and wife Nitaya, 33, moved in two years ago and when his kids started using it, he decided to make it more secure.

More than a year ago he installed some scaffolding over two weekends and gave the platform sides and a roof, so his kids could play more safely, forking out £400.

Four months later he was visited by a council planning officer after a neighbour complained but he claims he was told they would take no action.

"They replied saying it should have planning permission but we won't do anything because it's such a small thing, and I thought nothing more of it," said Andrew.

But he then got the planning enforcement notice earlier this month and will have to tear it down or face prosecution.

Disappointed Andrew said: "They say they think it overlooks the other gardens but you can't even see it through the canopy of the tree which completely covers it up.

"I wish the neighbours had just come to me and said something straight away.

"I think it is a bit ridiculous. It is not like it is constantly in use - the kids only use it on the nice days when it is light enough.

"It is no different if the children are playing in the tree or in a treehouse. So does this mean the tree has to be cut down too? What is it they find so offensive about the sight of children playing?"

Andrew has lodged an appeal against the planning notice.

Stroud District Council said: "The treehouse in question is a shed held up by scaffolding and is clearly visible from neighbouring properties."