A GARDENER who built a 35ft flower tower costing £30,000 for charity said he will be bringing it down after the council told him he would need to apply for planning permission .

Flower-obsessed Eddie Hayes, 73, of Gibbs Road, Beechwood, in Newport, has been selling flowers from the tower for the past three years to raise money for the British Heart Foundation (BHF) after having a triple-heart bypass.

But Newport City Council has now told him to take it down or pay £190 in planning permission application fees.

Mr Hayes built the tower himself, first making it 26ft before deciding to add another 9ft to the design.

The gardener said: “I feel terrible and I have spoken to thousands of people who love it and tell me how beautiful it is.

“I can’t believe I have to take it down, it cost me over £30,000 to build.

“The council told me about the tower over a month ago and said they had a complaint.

“I don’t know why though because everyone loves it. The neighbours across the road love it so much, they love watching me climb up it and water it.”

But Mr Hayes has also said although he is angry, he has decided to take it down due to the concerns of his wife Jean, aged 66.

“When I first heard I had to take it down or pay planning permission I was willing to fight for it and go to prison and everything," he said.

“I love my climbing the tower and I love weeding it and planting it but my wife hates it.

“She hates me climbing going up there and that is another reason why I am going to take it down.”

Councillor John Richards, cabinet member for regeneration and investment, said about Mr Hayes’ tower: “Newport City Council has to treat all residents fairly and a significant structure such as this does require planning permission. The council is also required to investigate complaints received from members of the public regarding unauthorised developments.

“While the tower is unauthorised, we recognise that the flower selling event last weekend was for a good cause and we agreed with Mrs Hayes on April 13 that we would not take any action as long as it was removed after the event.

“The council has been in discussion with Mr and Mrs Hayes regarding the possibility of submitting a planning application for an amended scheme but no details have been received as yet."