PUBLIC-SPIRITED Keith Buckley believed he had done his best to tidy up the unadopted road where he lives.

He lovingly created flowerbeds - and even had South View Terrace in Grange Moor surfaced.

But when he spent £1,000 of his own money to have a fence put up, it was a step too far for Kirklees Council.

He has now been ordered to tear it down.

Mr Buckley, a fork-lift truck engineer, was outraged.

"No-one else has bothered about that road for at least 22 years," he said.

The fence has been built in South View Terrace, alongside Upper Whitley First School. It was a move which Mr Buckley says was popular with parents.

"Before, when a football went over it went downhill and ran into the road. This is much safer."

He has been told the fence must come down because the land is owned by Kirklees Council.

He disputes the claim.

Parish councillor Roy Dobson is backing Mr Buckley.

Mr Dobson said: "If we are trying to say on every letter sent out that Kirklees is an Investor in People then it's not seen as investing in people if we're discouraging people from tidying their area."

A Kirklees spokeswoman said: " "South View Terrace was built as a street of council houses. The track behind it, up to the boundary with the school opposite the houses, is owned by the council.

"Mr Buckley's solicitor will have made him aware of his rights and obligations towards the council- owned road when he bought the property.

"He has been reminded by the council's legal services that the boundary of his property ends at the other side of the road."