TOWN councillors have given their clerk permission to begin enforcement action if chickens are not removed from an allotment.

Barnard Castle Town Council had given teenage poultry enthusiast Thom Robinson one month to remove the chickens off the allotment after repeated complaints from neighbouring residents about escaping hens.

At its meeting this week the council heard that the number of hens had reduced but there were still a few left at the Brittons Field allotment.

The town mayor, Councillor John Watson, said: "There is approximately one and a half weeks until the end of the month's notice.

"We need to consider whether we want to ask our clerk to begin enforcement action if the hens are not removed."

The council agreed that clerk Geoff Bosworth should begin enforcement action if the hens are not removed.

Thom, 17, has blamed vandalism at the allotment and people feeding the birds as the reason why they keep escaping.