Hector the cockerel has got people in such a flap over his crowing he is receiving hate mail.

Hector-hating folk have been sending poison pen letters to a community magazine wishing death upon the rare-breed bird and an end to his crowing.

The trouble began in the usually sleepy rural community of Stewarts Rise, Arundel, where Hector lives with three hens and his owner Jayne Peachey.

Neighbours began telling Arun District Council Hector was keeping them awake at night with his noise.

The council issued a gagging order and set up monitoring equipment last year to ensure Hector piped down.

Self-employed accountant Miss Peachey, 44, said the council was happy with the buff Orpington cockerel's behaviour and said he could remain in the neighbourhood.

But Hector's continued presence in the community ruffled a few feathers and readers of the Arundel community magazine The Bell, edited by Mayor Joe Hayes, have been sending in hate mail.

The letters began to appear at the start of the year, the first under the pseudonym Earl E Riser, in relation to Hector's sunrise crowing.

The author of the letter wished bird flu would wipe out Hector.

Miss Peachey, who moved into the street almost five years ago, said: "Hector is completely oblivious to all the shenanigans going on around him. He's more interested in his Kelloggs Crunchy Nut cornflakes.

"He is not a nuisance. I think the first letter was supposed to be a joke and the person who sent it thought it would be funny."

Hector, who is about three years old, is kept inside until 7.30am and crows less now he has become accustomed to his surroundings.

Miss Peachey was so upset by the ill-wishes towards her pet she has written to the mayor about the anonymous letter but said she has received no satisfactory reply.

In the November issue of The Bell, a further anonymous letter branded Hector a nuisance, although another writer told the moaners to move into town if they did not like the call of the wild.

Miss Peachey said: "People go into the farmers' market with their new wicker baskets to buy farm produce but don't seem to like the sounds of the countryside."

Animal-loving Miss Peachey, who also has cats, fish and cockatiels, said Hector had a lot more life left in him and people should tolerate the sound of nature.

She said: "Hector is staying. The council has been very, very nice about the whole thing.

"Hector's a good boy and he's very affectionate. He's gorgeous."

Miss Peachey said Hector could have another five or more years ahead of him.

Mr Hayes said: "The Bell editorial team selects all items that are published and have a responsibility impartially to print seriously-intended letters. We do not create or judge the issues they write about."