A ROW has broken out after a housing association tried to evict a family's horse from land behind their home where it has lived for 20 years.

Michael Hackett was stunned when he was handed a notice from Gentoo telling him if he did not move his horse, who he named The Duke after John Wayne, it would be removed by the horse bailiff and he would be fined £8,000.

The 58-year-old says the stallion has been on the land behind his Sunderland home for over two decades and his family have grown up the animal without a single complaint.

Over the years The Duke has taken part in wedding services, funeral services and even took Michael's grandchildren to their school prom.

But last Friday (July 8), the family were served the notice from Gentoo telling them the horse is illegally grazing on their land and it must be removed.

They have now set up a paper petition and an online petition on change.org in order to prevent the horse from being evicted and have attracted over 500 supporters.

Michael lives with his wife Marie, 58, his daughter Shamiem, 36, and his two grandchildren Brooke, 15, and Louis, 14.

He said: "I think it's very harsh. If the horse did something wrong, if he smashed the fence or caused damage I would agree with them. The horse has done nothing wrong at all.

"People have grew up around here seeing the horse. Everybody watches out for him around here.

"He knows the people in the area, they come over with apples and carrots. Everyone loves him around here.

"He was living here before my grandchildren were born. An 80-year-old man comes every day with an apple for him.

"It is unbelievable how popular he is.

"I have got a stable for him but he doesn't want to be boxed up 52 weeks of the year."

Michael was told he would have to move The Duke from the land, which used to be owned by Sunderland Council, by 9am on Monday (July 11) or he would be taken away.

The granddad removed the Duke from the land for a few hours as the deadline approached, and then returned him later in the day.

Michelle Meldrum, executive director at Gentoo, said it was responsible for providing safe communities for its residents.

"In this particular case, Gentoo is the landowner and is therefore responsible for any incidents that may occur on this piece of land.

"In addition, we are aware of a recent local incident involving a small child being injured by a horse and we have also received a number of concerns from members of the public about this particular horse.

"We are therefore taking the necessary measures to look after local residents and the wider community."

However, the company confirmed that the child was not injured by the Duke, but a different horse.

Michael, who said looking after horses is his hobby, said: "When I got the notice I was devastated.

"He's a member of the family. I always said I would take him to his place of rest or he will take me to mine.

"When I put him here 20 years ago I never thought there was going to be a problem. I have had him since he was a baby.

"It took me by surprise. He's been here 20 years and he's done nothing wrong.

"They would come and cut the grass and there was never a problem.

"Neighbours come and take his dropping for their allotments and gardens.

"I am just going to leave him on the field. With him being a stallion you can't put him in with other horses.

"Hopefully they will let us keep him here. I am determined to fight Gentoo.

"Here is definitely the best place for him."

Neighbour Tom Armstrong, 71, a retired sheet metal worker, has lived on the street for 48 years.

He said: "I was here when the horse first came and I have no qualms about it.

"It's been there a long time and my kids, when they were younger, used to love it. I've never had a problem with it. We like seeing the horse out the back. It's really popular in the area. I wouldn't like it to be removed."

Last night a spokesperson for Gentoo added: "We are in the process of trying to set up a meeting with Mr Hackett and we hope to come to a resolution without resorting to legal action."