A MUM was left fuming after her neighbour threatened legal action over a unicorn stored on top of her garden shed.
Anna Smith had been storing her children’s’ ride-on cuddly toy alongside other items in the open air as she didn’t have anywhere else it would fit.
But the owner of a nearby house has taken umbrage with the novel idea and branded it an “eyesore”.
In a letter written to Anna, they told her the items were a “nuisance” and said they are instructing a lawyer as they wish to re-let the property.
Anna, who lives in London, has only been left more confused and posted about her issue on a family Facebook group with 1.2million members.
She explained: “Hope this is allowed, need some advice and biggest group and all and was hoping someone may work in this field and can advise please.
“I have some items on top of my shed in my garden that have been on there for over a year, a ladder, a ride on unicorn and a trike.
“My garden isn’t big enough to store anywhere else.
“My neighbours across from us are re-letting their property and are saying that the items are a major eyesore nuisance and saying they will take legal action.”
Anna added: “Are my items actually legally an issue? Please see attached photo of my shed, the wall that the unicorn is resting on is mine, the house sticking out over the fence is the neighbour with the issue, the neighbour’s property looks down onto my garden and the letter they sent.
“They sent a similar letter the other day and I just responded saying that my children use the items and they said they were discarded and that I have tidied them up as much as possible.”
The mum then posted a picture of a letter from their neighbour, saying: “Dear neighbours. We write further to our letter dated September 5 and your swift and, to our mind at the time of receipt, understanding note of reply of the same date.
“As neighbours and a Christian community, we are anxious to resolve this matter amicably, but given our property is currently taking viewings on a re-let and this is a real concern of our agent, it has to be sorted out quickly.
“You’ll understand, therefore, that we have been obliged to run the matter past our lawyer informally at this stage.
“He confirms that this is an actionable private law nuisance and that he will be able to act swiftly if all items on the shed roof are not now removed by Thursday of this week at 4pm.
“We are also advised that such a failure, further to this final request from us directly, would make this ongoing nuisance clearly deliberate.”
An image posted by Anna shows a small green-painted shed with the items popped on top of it, with the cuddly unicorn leaning against a fence.
Blocks of flats are seen in the background but only part of the unicorn’s head can be seen over the wooden fence.
However, a neighbouring house does appear to back onto the garden, with a view of the items.
Anna said she did cover the toys in winter – but even that wasn’t good enough for the people concerned.
She said she had now received two letters on the matter, with one saying they did not want any items touching their fence.
Those who saw the post said they thought the neighbour’s request was “utterly ridiculous” and they needed to “get a grip.”
One poster said: “Does the unicorn face them? If it doesn’t I’d turn it around and paint its eyes with glow in the dark paint.”
Another viewer joked: “Move the stuff so they think they have won but have a speaker set up in the garden.
“As soon as you see any potential tenants coming to view, just blast out Rick Astley – Never gonna give you up, on repeat until they leave.”
A third commenter said: “There are so few properties to rent these days that absolutely no one is going to say ‘I love the house but I’m sorry I just can’t…the unicorn is bothering me.’
“They’re talking rubbish they just want top dollar rent that’s all and want everything to look perfect so they can get the ££££ they sound like they’d make terrible landlords too.”
And a Facebook user hilariously suggested a blow-up figure staring their way or adding a devil-like mask to the unicorn.
Meanwhile, one viewer who couldn’t believe what they were seeing said: “People are being bombed out of their homes, starving to death, and lord knows what other atrocities going on in parts of the world.
“They are worried about a toy representation of a fictional magical creature? They need to get a grip!”
And one simply responded: “Ignore them. They’re being utterly ridiculous. It’s not a legal matter.
“They wouldn’t have a leg to stand on love. If you want to, you can send them a polite note back saying I’ve tidied it up, as best as I am able.”
