A man from Dorset had a three-hour stand off with council officials and police – over a prize-winning flower display.

Robert Parkin was ordered to get rid of his pots and plants because he broke planning laws.

According to The Sun Robert from West Bay said: “I received a letter telling me I needed permission because the display is half on my land and half on council land. I was given 24 hours to remove all the flowers.

“Then two officials arrived at 11.30am and told me they were going to take the flowers down, but I wasn’t going to let that happen. They went away and came back a couple of hours later mob-handed.”

The officials returned with police and a digger and lorry to get rid of the display.

After three hours police persuaded the council to back down and Robert was urged to make a belated application for planning permission.

Steve Wollard, the council’s technical services manager, said: “There have been complaints about the large flower stand.

“Mr Parkin has no right to place it there. We would have needed a digger to dig up the flowers and a lorry to take them away. The police came to protect our staff and the public.”