A FAMILY has been told they will be evicted from their home if they do not get rid of their chickens within one week.

Joseph Philpot, 63 from Bramble Close, Chigwell has kept chickens all his life and has four in his back garden, along with a cockerel called Red.

But the father of three was left shocked and upset when South Anglia Housing called to tell him either the chickens had to go, or he and his family would be thrown out of the house.

Mr Philpot said: "I have had them for well over a year. I was told the neighbours had phoned up and said the cockerel was crowing in the morning but that's not true because it's locked up and unless it sees light it won't crow.

"I have lived in this area all my life and these people come from places where they are not used to the countryside."

Mr Philpot has three young children aged four, five and eight and he said they had become very attached to the birds.

He added: "They are quite difficult to tell apart, but there's one which looks a little bit odd compared to the rest and they call her Henrietta. The children love the chickens and my daughter would be very upset if they had to go."

Mr Philpot said his contract states they are allowed to keep dogs, cats, rabbits and birds.

But South Anglia Housing told him that chickens do not count as a bird.

He said: "They told me we don't have permission to keep them but I wasn't aware we needed it. I don't know where they will go.

"They're not just any old chickens, they are pure breed. They cost £75 each which doesn't sound like a lot but it was to me.

"Everyone used to keep them at one time. It shows how two faced my neighbours must be because they all accept eggs from us. They have obviously exaggerated it. But they drive up and down and use the place like a race track with their cars. Because they are not used to chickens they complain, but we have had them for ages and no one has said anything."

A spokesperson for South Anglia Housing said: "Following several complaints about noise disturbances caused by a cockerel over a length of time, our Neighbourhood Officer spoke to Mr Philpot and advised him that he will need to find another home for the cockerel.

“We understand that this may take up to a couple of weeks, and will be working with him to make sure that we can solve this situation amicably. This was the only solution that was discussed, and no further action was mentioned."