A row between planners and the parents of a man with Down's syndrome has finally been settled after months of wrangling.

Ronald and Patricia Borthwick originally surrounded their house in Lindum Way, Worthing, with a 2m-high fence after their son Jamie, 28, suffered "visual and verbal harassment" from passing schoolchildren.

The couple wanted to ensure Jamie could enjoy being in the garden and join in gardening without having to suffer the abuse.

Worthing Borough Council refused planning permission for the fence last September and served an enforcement notice demanding they take it down.

Mr Borthwick offered a compromise in the form of a lower fence but the council also refused his revised application, despite no objections from neighbours.

In a letter to the council, Mr Borthwick said: "We have a 28-year-old Down's syndrome son, who, due to a congenital heart defect and pulmonary vascular disease, has limited mobility but he does enjoy being in the garden and helping.

"Due to visual and verbal harassment, he does not venture into the side garden. We moved to this bungalow purely