Workmen took down a green aluminium fence from a garden in Birchwood, Totton, as part of a dispute between neighbours over land

Workmen brandishing power tools and shovels were out in force removing a striking green aluminium fence from a garden in Birchwood, Totton, after a homeowner reached breaking point.

Great-grandmother and widow Pat Scammell claims the fence and a garden built by neighbour David Clewer is on an area of land belonging to her.

But next door neighbour Mr Clewer strongly denies she has a say over what goes on the patch and is fighting to prove he is in the right.

A seven-strong team spent most of yesterday taking down the fence and digging up the garden to the anger of Mr Clewer and his family.

The row sparked in June last year after Mr Clewer built a brick wall at the front of his garden – but on the area Mrs Scammell claims belongs to her.

He then filled in what was once grass with a flower bed on the same patch before putting up the fence separating the two properties in September.

According to Land Registry documents shown to the Daily Echo, Mrs Scammell, 75, is the owner of the disputed land that spans across Mr Clewer’s garden.

Mrs Scammell, who has lived in the property for 43 years, said she returned home from work as a holistic therapist in June last year to find a brick wall was built at the front of the garden adjacent to Mr Clewer’s house without her permission.

She said Mr Clewer, who moved to the house in 1982, then filled in grass with a flower bed and path before erecting the two-metre high fence in September last year – all without her consent.

Mrs Scammell, pictured below, said she went to the Citizens’ Advice Bureau, who advised her to get in touch with chartered surveyor Carl Calvert.

His investigations confirmed the area of land is in the name of Mrs Scammell, and she instructed her solicitors to take action.

She alleges Mr Clewer has so far ignored correspondence with her solicitors – Underwoods – and was forced into action after reaching “breaking point”.

Mrs Scammell told the Daily Echo: “The fence is intrusive. It’s ugly and every time I look outside I see it. He has no respect for me as a neighbour.

“My husband John tried to sell it to him (Mr Clewer) for £10 in 1991 but he refused.

“He has completely ignored our solicitors, the council and myself.

“He’s pushed me and pushed me to breaking point.”

Police arrive at the scene

Yesterday’s dramatic developments saw Mr Clewer call police and an officer attended the scene but left shortly after with no action taken against the workmen or Mrs Scammell.

He told the Daily Echo how he submitted retrospective planning permission to New Forest District Council in December last year after the fence was put up in September – but withdrew it as the land is not registered in his name.

Mr Clewer, pictured below talking to the workmen, said he is in contact with Totton-based CGM solicitors and will attempt to retain the disputed land using ‘adverse possession’ law, which he claims could allow him to take control of the patch as an “adverse possessor” if a sufficient period of time has passed.

He said: “As far as we are concerned it’s our land as we have been looking after it for 35 years.

“I am less than pleased. It has been a distressing morning for us – especially for my wife Jean who has seen her garden destroyed.

“There was no problem before the fence went up.”

A spokesman for New Forest District Council said it had received a complaint which was being looked in to, however said that land ownership was a civil matter.