A NEWLY-WED couple say they are ‘hostages’ imprisoned in their dream home after a 6ft high fence was put up outside their front window.

The wooden barrier, wrecking their view, was placed there by a farmer in dispute with the national housing developer who built the new estate.

Now music teachers Thomas Entwistle, 27, and his 24-year-old wife Rebekah are in despair, keep their front window curtains closed, and spend most of their time upstairs.

Married in July, they moved into the £220,000 four-bedroomed corner property on Persimmon Homes Brook View estate off Parsonage Road, Blackburn, just before Christmas.

They went on holiday to the Caribbean earlier this month, returning to find David Preece, the owner of nearby Upper Mickle Hay Farm, had put up the solid wooden fence 2ft from their front door and living room window.

Lancashire Telegraph:

Mr Entwistle said: “This was our dream home and now it’s turned into a nightmare.

“It feels like we are imprisoned in our own house by this fence.

“We are being held hostage in a land dispute which is nothing to do with us.

“Rebekah and I have just started our own business and had to fight to get a mortgage and then to get this house.

“We bought it because of the view which has now been replaced by a huge wooden fence nailed to our own little one.

“Rebekah is always in tears. She is in despair.

“There was no warning. The fence just appeared.

“It is 2ft from our front window and front door. It’s like having the Berlin Wall in front of our home.

“It seems to be part of a dispute between Mr Preece and Persimmon over land borders but it’s nothing to with us.

“No-one mentioned this at all and if we had has any inkling of it we would not have bought the house.

“We’re not even sure we want to live here now.

“Even if the fence gets taken down there is no guarantee it won’t come back later or even be extended around the back. We are in feLancashire Telegraph: ar of that.”

The couple, who had moved from rented accommodation in Mellor, have considered employing their own solicitor.

Mr Entwistle said: “At first I was tearful but now I’m angry.

“We specifically bought this house, beating off a lot of competition, for it’s beautiful views and now they’ve gone."

“We now keep the curtains closed in the front room and spend most of our time upstairs,

“Rebekah is too upset to be in the living room.

“We just want it sorted out quickly and permanently so we can enjoy our new home in peace.”

A spokesman for Persimmon Homes said: “We are confident none of our development encroaches on land not legitimately within our ownership.

“We understand planning enforcement action is being taken against the neighbouring landowner to address the fence, which has been erected illegally and in breach of planning regulations.

“We are horrified the residents, who have done nothing to deserve this grotesque infringement on the enjoyment of their dream homes, are being inconvenienced in this way and continue to do everything we can to support them at this distressing time while the matter is resolved by the relevant authorities.”

Lancashire Telegraph:

Mr Preece’s land agent Gary Hoerty, of GHA Associates, Grindleton, said: “There is an ongoing dispute between Persimmon Homes and David Preece.”

Local Roe Lee ward councillor Sylvia Liddle said: “This is outrageous, unfair, unnecessary and unjust.”

She added: “I have contacted Blackburn with Darwen Council’s planning department as I think it is in breach of regulations and impinges on a public footpath.

“I will do everything I can to get this sorted quickly and permanently.”

The Persimmon Homes spokesman said: “The land for development was purchased in good faith and we have liaised throughout with the Land Registry and the neighbouring landowner to establish and agree the exact boundary.”