A nuisance neighbour has been forced to trim a hedge that he grew to the height of double-decker bus, blocking out light to an adjoining garden in West Harrow.


Martin Frewer, of Whitmore Road, was ordered to prune the foliage and pay legal costs of £1,100 after he was found guilty of breaching the Anti-Social Behaviour Act.


He was sentenced at Harrow Magistrates' Court, Rosslyn Crescent, Harrow, last Wednesday in a case brought by Harrow Council.


Neighbour Susan Pluckrose, of Lance Road, first complained to the authority about the mammoth hedge casting a shadow on her lawn and home in February 2006.


Environmental officers served Frewer with a notice to force him to get his shears out but successfully resorted to court action after he ignored five warnings about the nuisance the height of the greenery was causing.


The defendant has been given 56 days to cut back the hedge from 5.5m to a maximum of 3.5m or face further punishment.


Councillor Marilyn Ashton (Conservative), portfolio holder for planning, development and enterprise, said: "This verdict is a victory for common sense. Court action is always a last resort but the guilty party repeatedly refused to reduce the size of his hedge to an acceptable level.


"His selfish action was having a negative impact on his neighbour's quality of life and the council will always work hard to protect the best interests of residents."