A COUNCIL is supporting angry residents who have placed oversized flowerpots outside their homes to stop motorists parking on grass verges.

Sympathetic officials at Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council had warned residents in Stanley Grove, Redcar, that they were flouting the Highways Act by trying to block off the grassy areas.

But yesterday, the council promised to try to help them keep the flowerpots, boulders and half barrels in place.

Eric Empson, cabinet member for strategic planning, development and infrastructure, said: "We are telling residents that we do appreciate their efforts to enhance the appearance of the environment and assuring them that the flowerpots and boulders can stay.

"Now it's our job to look at ways in which we can officially authorise their placement on the highway verge and we're taking legal advice to try and sort that out.

Initially, the council sent a letter to homes urging them to remove the items after it received reports of one child tumbling over a boulder.