A mum today hit back at claims that a hydrotherapy pool for her disabled son is an eyesore which is devaluing neighbouring houses.

Karen Newton may have to demolish the pool in the back garden of her home in Lynton Road, Hadleigh, after complaints from a neighbour - because she does not have planning permission for it.

Councillors are to visit the specially-adapted house to see the pool for themselves after Mrs Newton applied for retrospective planning consent.

In their letter to the council, neighbours Mr and Mrs Mortimer claimed the pool was an eyesore which devalued their property, and led to added noise and traffic problems.

But today Karen, 36, has hit out at the claims branding them as "absolute rubbish".

She said: "They are trying to make us sound like the neighbours from hell, claiming we create excessive noise and parking problems.

"I am really unhappy about that. It is just not true. There is not any problem with parking or an excessive use of the pool.

"These are ridiculous accusations and are absolute rubbish. They are totally unfounded and wholly untrue."

The pool provides great benefit to Joshua, aged four-and-a-half, who suffers from spinal muscular atrophy confining him to a wheelchair.

The special pool gives him the freedom that he craves to move around on his own.

Although it was built last summer for Joshua, his parents only recently submitted a planning application to Castle Point Council.

Mrs Newton claims she was originally told planning permission was not needed for the pool.

She added: "Our neighbours have given us no indication that they were going to complain. There has not been one word from them and they have never led us to believe they have any problem with it.

"I would have expected them to say something to us if there was such a major problem. You can imagine my shock at these comments they made to the council."

Mr and Mrs Mortimer declined to comment.

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