A roar of disapproval has greeted a council order to remove a village “tourist attraction”.

Sheikh Abid Gulzar has been told he has less than a month to remove six stone lions that sit on plinths outside his property at Pevensey Levels in Pevensey.

Yesterday he accused Wealden District Council of wasting resources on the move instead of tackling the flytipping which he claims is blighting the area.

Mr Gulzar, who runs the Albany Lions hotels in Eastbourne, had appealed against the council's enforcement notice ordering him to remove the statues.

The authority said the statues did not have planning permission and were backed by a Government planning inspector at the appeal.

Mr Gulzar said he thought the order to remove the statues was a drastic step but now has until November 14 to remove them.