PEOPLE living in a Gwent community are spitting feathers - because of a ruling from the local council they believe is just plain 'quackers'.

Torfaen council is demanding that a pub in Croesyceiliog keep their ducks and chickens penned in, despite the fact they have roamed free on nearby common land for the past 13 years.

The council has threatened legal action if the wandering birds are not kept under control. But locals are backing the landlord and landlady of the aptly named Upper Cock Inn, at The Highway, David and Diane Evans, (pictured) in the battle of the birds. They don't want their feathered friends up before the beak.

Mrs Evans said: "We have had ducks and chickens in our beer garden for years. They use the land at the back to graze on.

"Last week we were suddenly sent a letter from the council, ordering us to stop them using the land, so we've penned them in now. But people here are up in arms about it, coming in the pub and complaining, asking 'where are all the birds?'

"I was very surprised that so many people cared about the animals." Hundreds of angry residents have signed a petition at the pub backing the birds' right to roam.

Michael Eagles, 57, of Llangattock Road, is a regular at the Upper Cock. He says the birds have become a feature of local life.

Mr Eagles said: "The ducks give the common a village atmosphere. They wander round quietly and don't make a nuisance of themselves. The kids love them, they feed them and learn from them. What possible reason could the authority have for wanting them removed from the land? Do they want to take away the very heart and soul of our community?"

A spokesman for Torfaen council said: "The land behind the pub is for the local public to enjoy walking, playing and exercising.

"We have had problems with dozens of ducks, geese and chickens wandering on the land and fouling. The birds have also been seen in the nearby busy road, which could cause an accident.

"We have sent a letter to the pub owners because the birds have been entering our field through a gate in the boundary fence, in breach of a court order. We want them to obey this order and block the gate so the birds remain within the pub grounds."