An elderly couple has been threatened with an Anti-Social Behaviour Order (ASBO) after they argued with neighbours over tea and biscuits.

Andy Williams, 81, and wife Maureen, 73, were warned by Waverly Borough Council after a row broke out at their senior living facility in Surrey.

The argument, which followed other disagreements with neighbours over gardening, has now led to legal threats and cease and desist orders.

Tensions began to rise two years ago after Maureen was deemed ‘rude’ by neighbours sharing a communal garden, which Andy claims led to ‘unbelievable’ consequences.

He said: ‘That’s what started it. What a petty thing, it was two old women having a little tiff and you would think World war Three had broken out.

‘The ramifications of that were just unbelievable.’

The couple has now been accused of ‘threatening, swearing, shouting, inappropriate comments and intimidation’, with Andy in particular of making ‘threats and unkind comments of a personal nature to more than one tenant’.

He vehemently denies the accusations.

They had their own solicitor issue cease and desist letters, saying the neighbours involved were damaging their reputation.

‘It’s a load of nonsense’, Andy added.

He fumed: ‘The only person I was rude to was the area manager who phoned up my wife and accused her, but I certainly didn’t swear. It’s a pack of lies from start to finish and it’s starting to affect Maureen mentally.

‘For me, it would take more than something like this to affect me. I’m fortunate that I can cope with all of this and it doesn’t bother me.

‘But we are having our name blackened – it’s not true and it’s not right.’

The couple are now considering a move to a bungalow.

Waverley Borough Council said: ‘Where we have received complaints about a tenant, it is our practice to initially write to them to remind them of their obligations to comply with their Tenancy Agreement.

‘In rare instances, where all our attempts to resolve the issues fail, we may offer one party the option of transferring to a new property. As with all those on the Housing Register, they will be offered a property that meets but does not exceed their assessed level of need.’

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