A farmer has been given the go-ahead to turn a redundant tennis court into a wildlife lake after he found himself in deep water with officials.

Brian Rivett, 68, was reported to West Norfolk Council after he dug the 35 x 17m pond at Boughton Farm, on the outskirts of Stoke Ferry, near Downham Market.

The authority has now agreed the pond can stay on Mr Rivett's land after making a site visit to see the work.

A planning officer's report said the 35 x 17m pond, built from re-used excavated earth with a liner "amounts to an engineering operation" and therefore required planning permission.

But it recommended approval, after noting the pond would "support flora and fauna, including fish and amphibians".

Brian Rivett's pond at Stoke FerryBrian Rivett's pond at Stoke Ferry (Image: Owen Sennitt)

It added no objections had been raised to the project, while whoever reported Mr Rivett in the first place remains a mystery, with the pond some distance from the nearest road and screened by vegetation.

A planning statement said: "This application will result in increased beneficial biodiversity to all parts of the applicant’s garden and in addition to the land around the application area."

A council spokesman earlier said some changes to gardens were likely to require planning permission if they were of "sufficient size".

He added the council would" work proactively with Mr Rivett to move this matter forward".

"This is a time in my life that I want to be putting into the garden but instead I’m spending it jumping through hoops with the council," said Mr Rivett.

"The council is meant to be proactive in encouraging nature conservation, this all feels unnecessary.

"It makes you wonder, where does this stop? Will people be hassled for laying a patio?"