Whale-shaped hedge angers council

Mr Monro said his hedge has attracted compliments

A hedge cut into the shape of a whale is under threat in south London after a council said it could be dangerous.

Lambeth Council said the hedge severely obstructed a footpath in Solon Road, Brixton, and told creator Zac Monro to cut it back.

Mr Monro denied his hedge was a problem and said: "All the residents love it."

But council divisional director John Edwards said people had a right to walk along footpaths safely "without having to step into the road".

Mr Monro told BBC London 94.9 that he was "astounded" to receive a letter from the council asking him to cut back his hedge.

Mr Monro and Mr Edwards (right) agreed to negotiate over the hedge

"Have they really not got anything better to do?" he said. "I trim the hedge regularly and have no problem with doing that."

He said his whale-shaped hedge attracted compliments from passing strangers, "even though some of them still think it's a peacock".

Mr Edwards said: "We do get pressure, rightly, from the Royal National Institute for the Blind to keep pavements free for people to walk along."

He said the council had been in negotiation with Mr Munro.

"We want the hedge to disappear or move back in a nice way, rather than us having to come back and deal with it," he said.