NUNS are facing legal action over the state of a fence on convent property.Betty Lockett, 71, lives next door to the Convent of Jesus and Mary, in Tower Road, Felixstowe.

NUNS are facing legal action over the state of a fence on convent property.

Betty Lockett, 71, lives next door to the Convent of Jesus and Mary, in Tower Road, Felixstowe.

For many years she has been trying to get nuns to repair a decrepit fence which borders her property.

Mrs Lockett said: "It's in a shocking state. My fence has got all this ivy growing about three of four feet above it and the soil underneath it is just falling away.

"It's happened over the course of about five years but it's just been getting worse and worse."

After years of complaining about it and getting no response, Mrs Lockett has now called in legal assistance in an attempt to resolve the dispute.

She said: "My daughter, Carol, is a solicitor and she has been advising me.

"My solicitor first sent a letter to the convent back in the summer and we did have three nuns come round on various occasions afterwards to have a look at the fence.

"They promised me something would be done - but it still hasn't.

"They told me they would take all the ivy down but they just tidied up their own garden and didn't touch any of it.

"The fence all the way round is in a terrible state but they say they can't afford to do it."

The fence borders a house formerly used by the convent's gardener, which is now rented out privately. The house still belongs to the convent.

Mrs Lockett said: "I had a stroke several years ago so my mobility is not good and I don't get out that much. But I love my garden and have a gardener that comes in and keeps it looking nice.

"The area outside my door is a terrible mess though because of the state of the fence, and its really upsetting."

No one at the convent was available for comment.