A couple have slammed council bosses for their 'harsh' approach after they were ordered to take down their handmade treehouse.

Eastern Daily Press: Rob Courtnell and Lisa Boxell moved to their house in Winterton a few weeks ago and decided to turn the garden into a haven fro Lisa's two daughters Kiera and Evie.As part of that they built a treehouse at the end of their footpath. But they have been told by the council that they have to take it down because it is dangerous.Rob Courtnell and Lisa Boxell moved to their house in Winterton a few weeks ago and decided to turn the garden into a haven fro Lisa's two daughters Kiera and Evie.As part of that they built a treehouse at the end of their footpath. But they have been told by the council that they have to take it down because it is dangerous.

Rob Courtnell and Lisa Boxell were keen to create an outside haven for their family when they moved to Winterton, and set about building a treehouse in a tree stump at the front of their council property.

Rob, 35, used recycled wood to build the sturdy play house with the intention for it to be enjoyed by Lisa's daughters and their friends.

But they were upset when Great Yarmouth Borough Council told them it had to be taken down, as it had been deemed unsafe - and if they wanted to keep it they would have to apply for planning permission.

And while the pair have accepted it will have to come down they have criticised the council's heavy handed manner.

Rob said: 'I'm an electrical surveyor by trade and if I condemn anything I have to give a written report. Nobody has sent me a survey or report. I have tried to ask why it's dangerous and they said it's going to attract kids, or someone might set it on fire.

'They seem completely pointless points. It's at the end of a pathway and I have got fields all around me.

'I'm upset I have got to take it down, it just seems a bit much to have to apply for planning permission.'

A council spokesman said the tree house needed planning permission, building control consent and approval from the authority as landowner.

'The tree house is accessible to the public via both a path and a field.

'Building control surveyors consider it a dangerous structure, as anyone could climb into and fall from the tree house, it could fall from the tree with someone inside or below it, and it could also be vandalised,' the spokesman added.

'The situation has been made clear to the family through telephone calls, emails, a visit by the estate manager and a subsequent letter.'

Council fencing put up around the tree house is due to be removed today so it can be taken down by Monday.