A COUPLE are in a legal battle with MP Oliver Letwin's constituency office after they put up a fence around their property to protect their children.

Julia Watkins, 34, of Dorchester Road, Maiden Newton, said she was distressed after her four-year-old son Charlie was knocked off his bike while riding in their drive earlier this year.

She said: "Charlie wasn't hurt but we were in shock because when they are playing in your own driveway you never expect this to happen."

Following the incident in March Mrs Watkins and her husband Darren erected a fence around their property - which borders the headquarters of the West Dorset Conservative Association and constituency office for West Dorset MP Oliver Letwin. Mrs Watkins said that after putting up the fence they received complaints from the manager of the constituency office Anthony Stanley and she said she disputes they are blocking an access way. To try to settle the matter Mr Watkins cut 4cm off of one of the posts but was told this was not enough.

Mrs Watkins said: "We received a letter from next door demanding that we take our fence down and that it was blocking their right of way.

"In fact the fence isn't at all - it borders our land which people coming in and out of the Tory headquarters were using to turn in."

The mum-of-three and former paramedic says that the Conservative office has about seven or eight cars come in and out every day.

Mrs Watkins maintains the £600 fence was built within planning constrictions.

She said: "Now we have been told we will be taken to court because we are blocking an ancient right of way which isn't even big enough to get a car down. We have been told it could cost us £20,000 in legal fees if we lost and we can't even afford our own legal fees to consult a solicitor."

Mrs Watkins added: "I even wrote to Mr Letwin to ask if he knew about the bullying tactics that one of his staff was using when I am only trying to protect my son."

Mr Stanley, who is also Mr Letwin's agent, said: "The association has had to seek legal assistance to resolve the impeding of a right of access."