IT's the question that's tearing apart neighbours in a seemingly tight-knit Hampshire cul-de-sac - who has cried fowl over Harold the cockerel

Everyone in Harold Road lived in harmony. The short row of houses off Southampton's Shirley Road would often see people stopping for a chat over the fence or a quick cuppa next door.

But the early morning waking calls coming from the back gar-den of number 19, where Kathleen Biddle keeps prize Cockerel Harold (named after his home street) and his harem of six hens, has left one mystery householder very unhappy indeed.

Now Mrs Biddle faces the possibility of a court case thanks to her robust rooster's vocal shenanigans after a complaint triggered a warning from environmental health officials.

She has been told she could be slapped with a noise abatement order if it is found Harold is a nuisance, and that if he doesn't pipe down after that, she could be hauled up in front of the beak and pay a £5,000 maximum fine.

The letter even carries an ominous forecast suggesting Harold could be cooped up for good should he ignore the warnings to cut the dawn chorus.

It says: "In the case of persistent noise nuisance from audio-equipment, the city council also has legal powers to take away equipment, until the matter has been decided in court.

''I have to advise you that this matter will be monitored and in the event of a further complaint you should also be aware that the city council has recently set up a pilot scheme to respond to incidents of noise nuisance occurring out of office hours and weekends."

The vision of men in white coats taking Harold away has been heightened with the letter's pay-off line:

"Under these circumstances the complainant has been advised of this service and further reports of noise from your premises will be investigated promptly by the appropriate officers who are authorised to take enforcement action if necessary."

And what is really galling Mrs Biddle, a resident in the street for nearly 40 years, is that she doesn't know which of her neighbours has blown the whistle. "I just can't think who it would be," said the 52-year-old chef. "I got in touch with the council and asked who had com-plained but they wouldn't tell me. I even asked most of the people in the close and they have denied it. Nobody ever complained to me. Lots of people round here come and look at him. He's really a big, good natured boy.

"All he's doing when he makes a noise is boasting when one of his chickens lays an egg.

"I thought all my neighbours loved him but obviously not. It has left a really bitter taste in my mouth not knowing. It really is a mystery. The only thing I can think is that it was someone living on Dyer Road whose garden backs on to mine."

Harold, a pure-bred malan, arrived at Harold Road last August purely by mistake.

"I thought I was buying chickens but I got some chickens and a cockerel instead.

"But I've become very attached to him now. It would break my heart to see him go."

Retired pest control expert Denis Dowle, 69, who lives across the road from Mrs Biddle, said: "I think Harold's sound is lovely.

"I grew up in the country and this is like a little bit of home in the city. He's very rarely up before 8am anyway. I can't imagine how anybody could find it annoying."

A council spokesman said: "Cases of noisy cockerels have occurred in the city in the past and environmental heath officers have successfully resolved the problem with the owners."

Last year 1,579 complaints about noise nuisance logged across the city led to 156 noise abatement notices of which only a few ended up in the courts.

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