A NORTH YORKSHIRE mother has threatened to chain herself to her children's Wendy house if council officials order it to be ripped down.

Donna Scotter and her husband, Paul, built the 1.5m-square wooden playhouse on decking they constructed on a patio in front of their home in Mount View, Muston, near Filey, for their daughters, Amber, six, and Jasmine, two.

But council officials ordered them to pull it down as it did not have planning permission.

The Scotters have since put in a retrospective application for planning permission, which is to be considered by Scarborough Borough Council's planning committee on Wednesday.

Planning officers have recommended the application be turned down. They say the development is "visually intrusive" because of its size and elevated position, and is harming "the character and appearance of the Muston conservation area".

But Mrs Scotter told the Evening Press: "We already had a patio at the front and we didn't know we needed planning permission. There are no play facilities in the village for children.

"We have got the full support of all our neighbours, our local councillor and the parish council. I will chain myself to it if I have to. I will appeal all the way."

She claimed the council's report to the committee was inaccurate in describing the size of the decking compared with the patios of neighbouring properties. She is demanding the report is amended before the meeting. She also said she will be making an official complaint to the Local Government Ombudsman over the council's handling of the case.

Updated: 11:39 Monday, April 28, 2003