Cock-a-doodle don't

Pensioner fined after nuisance bird crows 90 times in just 1.5hrs

- GEORGIA BATES

A PENSIONER has been hauled into court after his noisy pet cockerel kept waking up his neighbours as early as 3am.

Harold Brown's bird was recorded crowing 90 times in an hour-and-a-half by environmental health officials after residents of a usually quiet cul-de-sac complained about the din.

Brown, 80, who represented himself during the proceedings, said: "It doesn't cock-a-doodle do, it croaks." But six of his neighbours in Calmore, Hants, argued otherwise.

They told Southampton magistrates court that they have had to avoid parts of their house to get away from the loud squawking almost every morning.