FEARING for the safety of her children, a mother-of-four has lashed out at the authorities after she was kept in the dark over alterations to her garden hedge.

By Victoria Knowles

FEARING for the safety of her children, a mother-of-four lashed out at the authorities after she was kept in the dark over alterations to her garden hedge. Sally Jeffs said that her children are no longer safe to play in their own garden after Ipswich council cut her garden hedge without telling her.

Mrs Jeffs' privately owned home in Nacton Road backs on to council houses and their gardens are separated by the hedge.

Now the hedge, which was around 20ft, has been reduced to around 6ft leaving her exposed and with large gaps her children can climb through.

"I am so angry as now I feel my children cannot go out in the garden on their own. They have hacked it down and now not only can people see in but there are also gaps where my children can easily get through. They have made a really bad job of it as well and it looks awful," she said.

The council had gone in to the house opposite and cut the fence because the occupant wanted it tidied up but it seems it forget to tell Mrs Jeffs, whose children range from 19 months to nine years in age, of its plans. Now she says she is having real trouble getting hold of anyone at Ipswich Borough Council to rectify the problem.

"First it said it would send a surveyor round this week but that has now been put off. The staff seem to be avoiding me but I will not let this go. The hedge was a form of security for me and my children but this was taken away without my permission," she added.

An Ipswich Borough spokeswoman told The Evening Star they were in talks with Mrs Jeffs.

"We are investigation this complaint and we are currently in discussions with the resident concerned about the best way forward."