THE OWNERS of the "largest dog in the world" have launched a new bid to overturn an order barring the Great Dane and their three other canine companions from barking.

Neighbours of New Forest couple John and Brigitte Tee-Hillman won the noise abatement order after complaining the dogs, three of which are Great Danes, barked so much it made their lives "hell".

An earlier appeal to New Forest magistrates by the Tee-Hillmans, who live at Gorse Meadow, Sway Road, Lymington, was rejected and the couple were ordered to pay £2,324.40 legal costs.

Mr Tee-Hillman, 72, who is defending himself and his wife, denies the dogs caused a nuisance and claims the noise is a reasonable by-product of his guest house business, where they act as guard dogs.

One of the dogs, Sir Galahad, weighs 15- and-a-half stone and stands 7ft 6in on his hind legs. At 43in high at the shoulder, Sir Galahad easily eclipses the world record holder, Shamgret Danzas, by more than an inch but the Tee-Hillmans have yet to officially inform the Guinness Book of Records.

The giant beast, described as "half a horse", regularly chews through 14lb of feed as well as a plentiful supply of leftovers from the guest house.

Southampton Crown Court heard evidence from a succession of neighbours telling how the dogs, which all have Arthurian names, regularly barked all day.

Next-door neighbour Keith Gibb, who also runs a guest house and first complained to the district council, said: "They were just dreadful. If you sit at the receiving end, it is sheer hell."

Mr Gibb, who called himself a dog lover, admitted getting frustrated with the Tee-Hillmans and starting a chainsaw at 6am and a bird scarer "like a burglar alarm" to demonstrate the anti-social nature of loud noise.

His wife, Vanessa, said they were trying to sell their business but people always asked whether the dogs barked like that all the time.

Mr Tee-Hillman told the court he and his wife were forced to get the dogs after being targeted by criminals.

He said: "Over the last eight years our premises or we have been the subject of attack seven times, three times in the past year. The dogs on every occasion have driven off the people concerned. Great Danes are known for being very loyal defenders of their pack. We keep the ones we have now on the express recommendation of the crime prevention officer."

Proceeding.