A PENSIONER claims his privacy is being invaded by the family next door because they have moved their trampoline close to his fence and can see into his garden.

Derrick Croucher, who lives in Albert Road in Droitwich, said he approached his neighbours over the issue but they refused to move the trampoline, which the children use, away from the fence dividing his and their gardens.

“I asked for their consideration on my privacy as it is upsetting and affecting our lives," said the 71-year-old. "It means we cannot go in the garden without being watched – it invades our privacy.

“I want the kids to play, but my argument is why has the trampoline got to be so close to my fence where it could cause damage? It is my fence, I want to make sure it doesn’t break. It also gives them an opportunity to see over into my garden and look through my windows into my house.

“Every time I look out my window, I can see their trampoline. Whenever the children go on the trampoline they can see into my house.”

Mr Croucher said that when the family first bought the trampoline last year, they placed it in the middle of their garden. But on Sunday (February 17), they moved the trampoline closer – and Mr Croucher has been upset ever since.

Mr Croucher said that when he approached his neighbours over the issue, they told him “it is my garden and we can do what we like”.

Mr Croucher has a memorial in his garden dedicated to his sister, which is placed by the fence near the trampoline.

Speaking about the memorial garden, he said: “If I have to attend that, I feel uncomfortable.”

Mr Croucher lives in a property managed by Fortis Living and he claims that his neighbours told him he should move into a smaller house, as there is only him and his ex-partner living in the four-bedroom home.

He added: “We have lived here for 36 years and have brought up our five children in this house.

"We are too old to move out and why should we when we have been here all these years?”

The Worcester News attempted to contact Mr Croucher's neighbours to offer them the chance to respond to his comment, however no-one at the home when we called wished to speak to a reporter.

Fortis Living did not provide a comment before we went to print.

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