13257/1A row has erupted between Wootton Bassett neighbours over a studio built in a back garden.

Nick Mulford's neighbours maintain that his New Road studio is huge, unsightly and illegal, while he maintains that it is within planning guidelines and he is being victimised by neighbours.

Mr Mulford, who runs Bassett Signs, knocked down his garage around two months ago and put up a larger building that he uses for designing and making signs for his business.

He says that the building is small enough not to need planning permission, and he does almost all the sign fitting away from the house.

However neighbours, including retired butcher Keith Crump, say the building is an eyesore.

Mr Crump said: "The building is a massive intrusion in to the residential area, it is absolutely huge.

"I have always enjoyed standing out in the evenings and watching the sun set in the West, there are some beautiful sunsets at this time of year, but this building means I can't see them any more.

"This building is just concrete tiles, it is incredibly ugly and spoils what used to be a very nice peaceful road."

Mr Mulford says that planning officers have already inspected the building, and agree that it is within planning regulations.

He said: "All I am trying to do is make a living.

"My business is not noisy and I very rarely have people coming to the house, I usually fit signs at the customer's premises, this seems to me to be victimisation. My wife has been off work with stress for the last three weeks because of how unpleasant the neighbours have been.

"I have bent over backwards to please them. I was offered a free shutter door for the studio, but I turned it down because I know they are noisy and instead I have paid £1,700 for a quiet one, just to keep my neighbours happy but it seems as though I can do nothing right for them.

"In my old house in Westbury Park I had a small studio and no-one batted an eyelid, I can't understand what is different here.

"I don't run a business from here, this is just where I prepare signs, so it doesn't fall foul of planning regulations about businesses in residential areas, I am no different from a plumber or an electrician who goes out to work.

"It seems ridiculous that if I had a hobby like woodwork, which would be really noisy with lots of sawing and machines, that would be OK, but my business, where the noisiest thing is a printer, is causing problems.

"All I want to do is make a living."

But Mr Mulford's neighbours are not happy with his explanation, and have asked the town council to look into the issue.

Cheryl Deller and her husband Jeff live opposite Mr Mulford.

Mrs Deller, who runs The Flower Basket in Swindon with her husband, said: "It's just not right to have a business in a residential area. We pay a lot of money in business rates for our flower shop, so I don't see why Mr Mulford shouldn't have to as well.

"He wouldn't like it if we moved the flower shop into the street, or Keith moved his butcher's shop there so I don't see why we should put up with him.

"I have already written to the council about him and I will be objecting to any further applications he makes."

The town council met last week and agreed to look into the issue.