Angry Polly Sculthorpe has critcised St Leger Homes for wasting time and money after the housing firm demanded she tidied up her garden in Limpol Close, Cantley, or potentially face legal action.

Miss Sculthorpe, 27, uses her garden to grow tomatoes, beans and herbs for her two children both aged under five.

However, the full-time mum received a letter from St Leger Homes on Friday threatening legal action if she did not cut down the "overgrown weeds" in her back garden.

The letter states that the fenced garden is "untidy and does not enhance the appearance of the estate" and warns that Miss Sculthorpe has 28 days to tidy the area.

However, Miss Sculthorpe has been left baffled by the order and believes housing bosses have confused herbs growing in her garden with weeds.

She said: "I actually have herbs and bamboo growing in the border of the garden, including lemon balm, which looks a lot like nettles. I don't know if they've come around and seen that. I agree that people should keep their gardens tidy and safe and I always make sure I keep it as tidy as I can, although I have to borrow tools from neighbours sometimes.

"I just think this is such a waste of time and money."

Miss Sculthorpe said she could not understand why housing bosses did not speak to her about their concerns before making the threat.

She added she did not know what she could do to tidy the area because she believed there was not an issue.

"I am angry because I feel I make an effort. There are so many more areas they would be better spending their money and it bothers me that vulnerable people might get these kind of letters and really worry about them," Miss Sculthorpe said.

A spokesman for St Leger Homes insisted that it had a duty to ensure gardens were "kept as tidy as possible".

Judith Jones, acting chief executive of St Leger Homes said: "While our
staff were working in the area on August 22 we noticed Miss
Sculthorpe's rear garden was untidy.

"We will carry out a further inspection of Miss Sculthorpe's garden in around a month's time to ensure she has carried out the work."