A teenage boy is to lose his timber tree house built after a planning inspector ruled it flouted the law and must be dismantled.

Neil and Cheryl Tolley, of Church Lane, Pinner, said their son James, 13, enjoyed climbing the rope ladders to use the little raised cabin and verandah as a den with his friend.

The couple's gardener built the wooden hut with stairs in June 2006 and James used it for nine months without problem until a complaint sparked a Harrow Council investigation.

When Mr Tolley - who maintained the tree house does not overlook neighbouring gardens - was refused retrospective planning permission from the council, he appealed against the decision to the independent Planning Inspectorate.

However, last month inspector David Green threw out the appeal and ruled the development, which sits in the Tookes Green Conservation Area, was illegal - meaning it will have to be pulled down.

Mr Green said James' playden is "an incongrous and obstrusive feature that relates poorly to its surroundings" and is "harmful to the livign conditions of occupiers of neighbouring properties".