A disabled villager was today fighting to hold on to his beloved collection of pet monkeys.

A planning oversight has meant the cages in which the miniature Marmoset monkeys are housed are too close to 65-year-old Ted Millard's home.

Now neighbours have protested following his planning application for the shed at Great Holland.

Ted, who is virtually housebound and also suffers from a heart condition and diabetes, would be unable to care for the monkeys if they had to be housed further away - even a matter of a few feet.

His wife Judy said: "It gives him something to get up for. He feeds them, it gives him an interest but if it has to be moved he wont be able to walk the distance."

Neighbours have complained about the noise from the monkeys and the couple's pet parrots.

Published Friday, January 10, 2003

Brought to you by the Evening Gazette