Butcher battles 'no chopping or singing in the morning' order

A traditional east London butcher is battling his local council in the courts after he was ordered to stop chopping and singing in the mornings.

Brian Clapton, 51, was told by an enforcement officer from Barking and Dagenham council that they were responding to a noise complaint.

An upstairs tenant, who has since moved out, said the cheery butcher's early morning work was disruptive.



The issue reached Barking Magistrates' Court after Mr Clapton refused to cease chopping and singing between 0600 BST and 0800 BST each weekday morning and before 0900 BST on weekends.

"If they want me to not be happy and not sing, I refuse to do that," he said. "If they want me to stop chopping, I refuse to do that."

Mr Clapton said since the council owned the building, it was their responsibility to ensure it was "fit for the purpose, ie a butcher's".