FIRST it was trampolines – now it’s hanging baskets.

The housing group that told a mum to remove her child’s garden toy for insurance and safety reasons has now ordered a pensioner to take down his 37 floral displays.

The colourful baskets are fixed to the end of a block of flats in Beaulieu Road, Eastleigh.

But First Wessex has demanded that resident Rodney Nash must take them down.

They say they are blocking access and damaging the wall.

It comes after 20-year-old mum Stephanie Brett was told to remove a trampoline from outside a block of flats in Chandler’s Ford – or insure the toy for £3m.

The organisation said it had a “duty of care”

to residents in their communal gardens.

Now they have called on Mr Nash to take action and remove his bright displays of violas, pansies and marigolds, c l a i m i n g they have also received complaints.

Daily Echo:

Mr Nash said: “I just can’t understand why they want me to get rid o f them.

“ I have spent the last two years cleaning up the area – there were broken bottles, cans and rubbish all over the place.

“People say how wonderful the flowers look when they are out.

“Kids used to drop rubbish here but they don’t do it any more because it looks nice.

“It just makes no sense.”

The baskets are attached to the wall above a communal patch of grass at the end of the terrace of flats, meaning anyone who walks or drives past can see the displays.

N e i g h - bour Barry H i l l a r y said: “It is ridiculous.

I would m u c h rather look at flowers than a brick wall.

“Before it was just a wall with bushes and no colour.

He has tidied it all up and made it look great by himself.”

Another neighbour, David Johnson, added: “He should be left to carry out his hobbies.

“These flowers give pleasure to neighbours – there is nothing wrong with anything he has done.”

Carol Williams, operation director at First Wessex, said the housing association had a duty to ensure communal gardens were “safe, pleasant and enjoyable areas” for all residents.

She added: “Following seven complaints from local residents regarding the 37 hanging baskets on the side of the block of flats, First Wessex made the decision to ask the resident to kindly remove them.

“The baskets are obstructing access to the communal garden and causing damage to the property.

“We will continue to work closely with residents to ensure that the communal garden remains a pleasant space for everyone.”