Elderly residents of a Mid Devon village are shocked and upset after being told to remove hanging baskets because they are a health and safety 'risk'.
The pensioners who live in Bradninch put up the flower carriers to improve the appearance of their flats and bring a smile to their faces.
But Mid Devon District Council (MDDC) ordered for the baskets to be removed from a first-floor balcony for health and safety reasons.
Now the tenants of Bowley Meadow flats are fighting the "ludicrous" decision, saying they are being "targeted" because of their age.
Dianne Byrne, 70, said: "It's ridiculous. How can they be a health and safety risk? They are destroying something that's beautiful and taking joy from our lives."
Mrs Byrne said she "fell in love" with the flower baskets in 2011 when she was ill with depression, and the sight of them helped her to recover.
"The first thing I saw at this flat was the beautiful flowers. When I was down they got through to me, and they helped me get back on my feet," she said.
But she was left devastated when the council told her to remove the baskets following an inspection of the warden-controlled flats in April.
Emma Elston, MDDC neighbourhood officer wrote in a letter: "Whilst the baskets look lovely and improve the appearance of the area, they are unfortunately posing a health and safety risk. I therefore ask that the hanging are removed within the next 10 days."
But Mrs Byrne said the council did not explain the 'risk' to them, and she refused to comply with the instruction.
She accused the council of causing stress, illness and grief to many residents over the past three months.
"They are targeting older residents by making wardens redundant, and expecting us to pay for services they used to provide free-of-charge. And now they are even picking on our flowers," she said.
"When you reach this age you expect life to be stress free and peaceful – not disrupted in this way."
Fellow resident Antonia Jones, 75, said: "It's ludicrous because it's taking happiness from the elderly. I treat the flowers like my little babies, and say hello to them. They are a big part of our lives."
Their tenancy agreement states: "you or anyone living in the property must not throw anything or allow anything to fall from any windows, balconies or communal areas".
A MDDC spokesman said its decision had followed complaints about solar lights falling from the baskets, and that watering the plants had caused a "nuisance".
