A WOMAN could be forced to take down a new £700 fence at her home after council planners said it was not in keeping with the area.

Fiona Whitby, 43, had the 6ft fence built at her home in Malton, at the end of June.

The 43-year-old claimed she only did so after checking with Ryedale District Council which, she said, told her it did not need planning permission.

She said: "I actually bothered to go and ask them to double check that I could put a 6ft fence up.

"I ripped out a perfectly good 3ft fence and part of a 10ft high Leylandii hedge and, if I have to take the new fence down, I will be left with even less privacy than I had before."

However, the council insisted it had no record of her letter and no form had been completed to seek planning permission.

Planning officers are recommending that the application be refused.

They have also recommended that the authority be given permission to remove the fence.

The council's planning committee will discuss the matter on Tuesday.