When farmer Tim Taylor decided to build a bungalow on his land he thought there would be no problem because the nearest house was more than a mile away, writes Madeleine Pennell.

But his neighbours, Charles and Angela Cottrell-Dormer, who live in 17th-century Rousham House overlooking his farm, complained because they said it would spoil their view of the landscape. The land surrounding their home was designed by famous landscaper William Kent in 1738, and a parcel of the estate was sold to Mr Taylor's grandfather in 1908.

The planners sympathised with the objection and the application was turned down. So as a "bit of a joke" Mr Taylor built three "guardsmen" out of hay bales covered in black plastic. He painted faces on them and placed them around the 300 year-old folly overlooking his neighbour's estate. Mr Taylor, 52, of Rectory Farm, Northside, Steeple Aston, said: "I was simply making a point. I own the land and I own the landscape. We have been here for nearly 100 years and there was a house on that site before.

"My neighbours would not have been able to see more than the ridge of the bungalow roof. At the moment the nearest house is three-quarters of a mile away."

He now plans to submit plans for another bungalow which will be set further into the ground to avoid spoiling the view.

Mrs Cottrell-Dormer said: "Mr Taylor put the bales there as a joke, but we are still on good terms. The bungalow would spoil the view of a Grade I listed garden."

Story date: Tuesday 29 February

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