A STRETFORD man’s green-fingered attempts to spruce up his flat didn’t take root with a Trafford Housing Trust caretaker – who threatened to remove and destroy his new hanging basket.

Neil O'Donoghue recently placed the artificial plant decoration outside the front door of his third floor apartment in Nansen Close.

But the 47-year-old, who is deaf, was amazed to find that he’d been left a note advising that the item was an ‘obstruction’ and would be carted off and disposed of if it wasn’t taken down in seven days.

This despite Mr O’Donoghue’s flat being the last in his row – meaning no other residents need to pass his door to access their homes.

Speaking on behalf of her brother, Melissa O’Donoghue said the walkways and corridors of the flat were ‘very dismal looking’ and he’d only wanted to ‘spruce up the area outside’.

She added: “I think this is a case of overzealous health and safety regulations, or else a personal objection by the caretaker; either of which are unacceptable.

“My brother works very long hours and is distressed that he is being treated like this. He has been a model tenant for a number of years.

“I feel that although my brother is a council tenant, he should be entitled to improve the space in the hallways – for which he contributes maintenance payments – outside his flat in a tasteful manner, as long as it doesn’t cause a problem for anyone else.”

A spokesman for Trafford Housing Trust said: “We really like the look of what Mr O'Donoghue has done and we understand that artificial plants have their uses especially in communal areas where there isn’t much natural light.

“Our primary concern is always peoples’ safety and we have strict policies to ensure this, but that doesn’t mean we don’t take a common sense approach.

“Clearly there is no trip hazard here, although we will require the hanging basket to be moved to the other side of the door as it’s at head height and someone could run into this if there was a fire and lots of smoke.

“Our Neighbourhood Partner will call on Mr O’Donoghue to make sure all this is ok and to see what else we can do to help.”