A cockerel is facing a gagging order after neighbours complained he was a noise nuisance.

Simon Grant Jones, of Sutton Poyntz, will have his bird monitored over the coming months after it was reported to West Dorset District Council by a newcomer to the village.

The offending bird, which is a rare breed leghorn exchequer, may face eviction from his home in a private allotment near to Mr Jones’ cottage in Puddledock Lane.

Mr Jones said: “I’ve been keeping cockerels and hens on this site for around 10 years.

“I kept this one because he has a very low-noise level crow and usually does it at about 7am which is not a problem with my other neighbours.

“I really want to highlight the fact that traditional country values and ways are gradually being eroded.

“People are coming to live in the countryside with no real grasp on what it means to live in the country.

Mr Jones, who teaches at Kingston Maurward College, said he doesn’t know what will become of the cockerel should the council find him to be a noise nuisance.

He said: “I don’t know what we’ll do if we’re told we have to get rid of him.

“He is classed as a rare breed so I would like to re-home him rather than kill him.

“It’s just a shame because this is the countryside and traditional values are being eroded by people who don’t seem to have any idea what it’s about.”

Mr Jones added: “I’ve been told I will be monitored for up to six months now.

“I’m really annoyed that people are moving here with idealistic views of what the countryside is like and telling us what to do.

“Cockerels have been crowing since they have been on this planet.”

Mr Jones said the consequences of losing the cockerel could be dire for his hens.

“The reason I am pushing this issue is because I do a traditional countryside job, I know what rural values are and I promote them in what I teach at the college.

“I keep a cockerel to look after my hens, both to defend them against predators and to minimise pecking and bullying.

“Because of this one complaint I may be forced to get rid of the bird and the welfare of my hens could suffer.”

'We have to investigate'

Graham Duggan, community protection manager at West Dorset District Council, said: “We have a legal duty to investigate all noise complaints.

“We have written to the owner of the cockerel to let him know a complaint has been made and offered him the chance to give his views about it.

“The district council has not upheld the complaint or issued a noise abatement notice but we have a legal duty to monitor the situation and each case is dealt with on an individual basis.”