A GARDENER will be allowed to keep the decking in his garden -- despite neighbours' complaints that their privacy was being infringed.

They said the homeowner at Forest Side, Lostock Junction Lane, could see over their fences while standing on the raised deck. But councillors on Bolton's planning committee said the decking, which had been built without planning permission, could stay.

Cllr Nick Peel told the meeting: "There are thousands of places in Bolton where people can see into each other's homes. It is becoming almost an obsessive pursuit of people to stop neighbours seeing over their fences.

"But that shouldn't influence us to such an extent that we refuse planning permission for a piece of decking in future."