'We feel like prisoners in our own home': Neighbours in Staffordshire have been at war over 'ridiculous' row of six-metre trees for SEVENTEEN years Two conifers given as a gift have sparked a war between two neighbours Staffordshire row has its roots in an old hedge that was removed in 1996 Was replaced with conifers which now block out light to Ken Elliot's home Mr Elliot claims he cannot open his windows because of flies and gnats A 17-year feud between two neighbours over 20ft tall trees was today finally drawing to an end after the council ordered the "personal forest" to be cut down. Ken Elliot, 55, of Cannock, Staffordshire, called Dale Woolley, 59 and his family "neighbours from hell" because they would allegedly do nothing about the large conifer trees in their front garden. They are blocking out his sunlight and encouraging flies around the home of Mr Elliot, who said he has been asking his next-door neighbour to tend to the trees for years. Personal forest: Ken Elliot has blamed his neighbour for allowing the conifers to grow so high they block out his light The situation has now become so bad that Mr Elliot - who said he feels like a "prisoner" in his house - cannot open his windows, because there are always gnats and bugs flying around. Mr Elliot said: "It is quite ridiculous. We feel like prisoners in our own home. We cannot open the windows as there are too many bugs. We don't get any natural light in our living room as the trees completely block it out. With the hot weather we have been having it has been unbearable. We tried to open the windows but we had loads of bugs flying around and resting on food. So we had to shut the window and make do with a fan. I cannot believe how bad things have become. Gloomy: Mr Elliot stares out from one of the upstairs rooms, which has been in the shadow of his neighbour's conifers for years Mr Elliot said the trouble started in 1996 when he spoke to his neighbour about uprooting a hedge and building a wall to separate the two properties. We cannot open the windows as there are too many bugs Ken Elliot Mr Woolley agreed and Mr Elliot gave his neighbour two miniature conifers to replant as a "thank you" for allowing the wall to be built. But Mr Woolley decided to instead plant eight large conifer trees which have been continually growing in the front garden of the adjoining houses on Huntington Terrace. Mr Elliot wrote to his neighbour when the High Hedges Act came into force and again in 2011 when he and his wife Christine-Anne, 57 began to notice cracks appearing in their wall. Overshadowed: The grandfather from Cannock in Staffordshire demonstrates how high the trees are Former miner Mr Elliot said: "What I worry about the most is when my three young grandchildren come round to visit. We have worked hard to make this little ex-council house presentable and nice place to live and he has just come along and made things difficult for us If they are playing in the garden I panic, because if there was a strong gust of wind and a branch hit them, they could be really hurt. When we have high winds it is quite scary as the trees are so large. I just hope if any of them fell down they would fall onto his side and not mine. When a local newspaper approached the Woolley family, Mr Wooley's son Tristan said they liked having trees which are really tall because it is like having their own "private forest." But Mr Elliot thinks it is completely unreasonable and has caused him and his wife much worry. Feud: The dispute first started back in 1996 when Mr Elliot made a gift of two miniature conifers to his neighbour Order: Cannock Chase Council has now ruled Dale Woolley has to lop the 20ft trees back down to the more reasonable height of 5ft He said: "We have worked hard to make this little ex-council house presentable and nice place to live and he has just come along and made things difficult for us." Cannock Chase Council have taken action against Mr Woolley under the Anti-Social Behaviour Act and by September 28, the two main Confier trees need to be cut to 5ft and should never exceed 6ft 6in. Mr Elliot said: "It is a small bit of justice and I am delighted that the council have finally done something about this. I understand people have the right to live how they want but you need to be reasonable. I cannot wait to be able to finally open my windows and have a bit of sunlight through them as well.