A GRANDMOTHER who put up a £400 fence behind her flat to keep children safe has had it torn down by Bolton at Home.

At the end of May Elaine Hibbert had the six foot fence panels installed between her flat and an adjoining property on Booth Road, Little Lever.

Miss Hibbert has lived in her first floor flat for 15 years and bought it 18 months ago. She maintains the land behind the flat, together with ground floor neighbour Julie Fitzpatrick, although they do not own it.

She hoped the fence, which stretches the length of the 37ft garden, would keep her grandchildren, Thomas, aged five, and nine-month-old George safe when they visit.

She said: "The area was open plan and the way it was, if the flats' communal door was left open they could wander out."

But shortly after the fence went up Miss Hibbert, a 60-year-old customer service advisor, received a letter stating it would have to come down.

Miss Hibbert, who has complained to the housing ombudsman about the issue, says her fence is no different to those erected by other neighbours which have been allowed to stay.

She added: "They say it is because I have no permission, but why am I not getting permission when everyone else is?

"If I was doing something different like painting my house yellow I could accept that, but I am not.

"I am really angry. I am being victimised."

Bolton at Home sent workmen to remove Miss Hibbert's fence on Friday and said they would also charge her £180 for the job.

"There is nothing I can do to stop them," she said.

A spokesman for Bolton at Home said: “We do not currently grant permission to tenants or right-to-buy homeowners to fence in communal gardens.

"This is for a number of practical reasons, including ensuring access for neighbours is maintained and that grounds maintenance work is not hindered.

“Mrs Hibbert has requested permission to undertake this work on several occasions and each time it has been refused. She has subsequently chosen to put up a fence without permission.

“Therefore, in line with our policy we removed the fence to reinstate the communal garden and Mrs Hibbert will be billed for this work.”