A Yarm allotment holder has called for a better relationship between tenants and town councillors, following a clampdown on turkey-keeping.

Tommy Williams, of The Meadowings, has kept turkeys at a plot in the run-up to Christmas.

But Yarm Town Council forbids this and recently contacted him. He said the tone of this notification was impolite and the council's alleged grumpiness annoyed him.

The council is to send reminders to all allotments holders.

Mr Williams told the D&S Times he did not realise allotment rules had changed, meaning livestock could no longer be kept.

"I've got 24 turkeys and some bantams. I now know they shouldn't be there. But I kept turkeys last year and there was no mention of it.

"This year, I put them in a derelict allotment next to my own, after tidying it up. It was overgrown like a rainforest. I cleared it up, put the turkeys inside a proper shed, fenced it off and put a lock on the gate."

He said this improved the appearance of the empty plot and kept out vandals.

"I've had an allotment for 15 years, kept hens for 12 years and had pigeons last year. They've all been well looked after. I know old chaps who used to keep pigs and other animals. But now, we're not allowed any birds or livestock."

Gardening was a passion and he grew vegetables and entered them into the annual Yarm Produce Show. He had a trophy for his onions.

Allotment-holders did much good work around the plots, which was done quietly and informally for the general good.

"We clean the place up and get rid of rubbish. We stop it looking like a shanty town. I helped men from Stockton Council remove lots of broken glass after a shed was vandalised.

"In general, things are OK and the allotments' association is pressing for more improvements. But Yarm Town Council has a bad attitude. It comes down on heavily on petty, little things and doesn't recognise our goodwill. Surely, the council has bigger problems to deal with than two dozen turkeys?"

Following last week's D&S Times report of an RSPCA investigation into overcrowded poultry at an Eaglescliffe allotment, he stressed the majority of tenants treated animals well.

Mr Williams and his turkeys were discussed at Yarm Town Council's Tuesday meeting.

Coun Marjorie Simpson said: "I've said he can keep the turkeys until Christmas. It would have caused a bigger problem if we'd asked him to get them out. We have to be reasonable. But I've told him the turkeys should not be there."

Vice-chairman Coun Philip Addison said: "The council has to be compassionate."

Other complaints about plots had been investigated, including the dumping of building materials and a three-piece suite. The allotments association had assisted. It turned out the building materials were being used legitimately at a plot and the suite had been burnt.

Couns Peter Monck and Gwen Porter said dumping was not a trivial matter. Rubber, plastic and foam were toxic. Only manure and compost were allowed