A bitter row has flared up after a businessman appears to destroy a flower bed build by volunteers near his home in a Welsh village.
Footage shows the bizarre moment a wind turbine company director Mike Hodgson, 54, targeted a wildflower bed in a village in north Wales just hours after it had been planted.
The turf war escalated in Gwaenysgor, North Wales, after the man and his partner allegedly used power tools and crowbars to destroy the bed of flowers near his luxury home.
It comes after an alleged ongoing planning dispute between locals and the Hodgson after he moved into the countryside village around a decade ago, villages said.
Video taken by one of the residents shows the bizarre but heated flower row as Hodgson and his partner Shirin Poostchi, 55, appear to rip out bundles of flowers and toss them to the side on Tuesday.
At the same time, villagers stage a quiet ‘sit-in’ protest to protect the flower bed which was planted less than 24 hours earlier in preparation for the gardening competition Britain in Bloom.
Neighbour Andy Clarke, 58, said: ‘We installed a herb planter adjacent to their house – it is not on their land but is next to it.
‘Members of the public had to sit on the bed to stop them destroying it. The police were called but no one was cautioned or arrested.’
Clarke, a creative director at design agency, said the flowers had been planted with the support of the community council in what he described as a ‘sleepy, rural, village, where the average age of residents must be over 60.’
He said: ‘We planted this to brighten things up and as part of readying the village for Britain in Bloom and in association with the village Conservation Group and Community Council Biodiversity Project.
‘We hoped it would last a long time but it didn’t even last a day.’
Clarke said villagers had previously contacted their local Conservative Senedd Member Mark Isherwood and police regarding alleged ‘anti-social behaviour’ problems with Mr Hodgson but to no avail.
Previous incidents locals have alleged include verbal abuse, cars being covered in stale bread, chip fat and lipstick when they had been parked near Hodgon’s house, MailOnline reports.
Hodgson said he did not wish to comment on the dispute and added: ‘To be honest it is not something we want to be dealing with.’
Poostchi added: ‘We’re trying to get on with our day at work.’
Local Inspector Wesley Williams, of North Wales Police said: ‘I am aware of ongoing concerns raised by residents in the Gwaenysgor area, and of images in connection with an incident released in the media.
‘Prior to the incident, I have had discussions with relevant partners and Senedd members to understand the concerns and issues within the village and to be able to provide longer term community support.
‘I would urge the public not to jeopardise ongoing police investigations by sharing or commenting on the matter online.’
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