Pensioners have been told to remove hanging baskets full of flowers near their homes because they are a "health and safety" risk.
Residents say the "risk" has not been explained and they have not been offered an alternative.
Diane Byrne, 70, a resident of Bowley Meadow flats in Bradninch, near Exeter, said: "When you reach this age you expect life to be stress free and peaceful not bothered by the usual people in authority.
"I fell in love with this place while ill with depression. The hanging baskets of my neighbours and the surrounding areas planted by them are beautiful to see. This wonderful sight got through to me and along with my new friends, helped me to recover.
"Now our lives are being disrupted by a Mid Devon Council worker who has sent out letters ordering that the hanging baskets have to be removed as they are a health and safety risk.
"She can't stipulate what the health and safety risk is and has yet to give a good reason or alternative solution.
"This same council person also targeted a fellow villager of Bradninch over work he had undertaken to improve the look of the town.
" All the residents here are elderly, disabled and vulnerable and the council worker has caused stress, illness and upset to most residents of these warden controlled flats.
"To remove the flowers will destroy a beautiful area of Bradninch and take joy from the lives of residents, neighbours, friends and visitors to our area."
A spokesman for Mid Devon District Council said it was looking into the matter.
