A NEWPORT family were shocked to be told a treehouse in their garden that has been used by local children for nearly four years breaches planning laws and may have to be removed.

Now miffed Glenn Fitch has had to fork out £110 for an official planning application seeking to retain the wooden treehouse.

Following a complaint from a neighbour, planning officers visited the site and said that because the structure is more than four metres off the ground it required planning permission.

Glenn, of Forest Close, Newport, built the treehouse for his sons Harvey, 7, and Adam, 13, but it is used by many neighbouring children as well.

He said: "I would rather them play safely in the garden than out in the street.

"I cannot believe anyone has been so petty as to object to the treehouse and it is ludicrous that it requires planning permission.

"I don't blame the local officers because they have to investigate it once it is drawn to their attention.

"But it seems crazy because a workshop I am building in the garden is much, much bigger but does not need consent."

Glenn, a maintenance overhaul and repair manager at GKN Aerospace Services, said he was gobsmacked at having to go through the planning motions.

"At first, I thought I would just cut the tree down out of spite but then thought that would be a shame because of all the fun my kids and others have with it.

"The treehouse is only about 5ft by 8ft and painted green so it is not obtrusive. In the summer you can hardly even see the thing because of all the leaves.

"In the winter it can be seen from busy Forest Road but no one has complained about it - until now.

"It is all a bit of a nonsense really but it is still costing me money."

Isle of Wight Council planning assistant Andrew White confirmed the department had looked at the treehouse following a complaint.

"Planning law states that because it is four metres from the ground then it does need planning permission and we had no alternative than to invite Mr Fitch to make an application.

"Had the treehouse been slightly lower then it would not have needed an application.

"The main issues are whether it overlooks neighbours and what visual impact it has on the area.

"In this case, I do not envisage any major problems," Mr White said.