Kent woman gives up her rescue cockerel after an anonymous neighbour complains and the council threatens a £1,500 fine

Laura-Jane Wain, from Upper Halling, Kent, returned rescue cockerel Bruce Almighty to an animal charity after Labour-led Medway Council issued an anti-social behaviour notice in September — despite no neighbour ever complaining to her face. Wain had followed the council's own advice, moving Bruce to her cellar each evening to delay his crowing until around 7.30am, yet still received a second warning. Family health problems meant she felt unable to fight the ruling.

None of Wain's neighbours admitted making the complaint — she says the community sent supportive messages saying Bruce 'feels like the country.'

The council suggested lowering Bruce's coop ceiling to stop him crowing; Wain feared that would amount to animal cruelty.

'Now one person, who wouldn't even talk to me, has made it all go away,' Wain said of the single anonymous complaint that sealed Bruce's fate.