Complaining about a neighbour's hedge will not cost £320 in Bradford after councillors agreed to slash the price.

Under tough new powers councils can force homeowners to chop back nuisance hedges.

After criticism the proposed charge was "extortionate" Bradford Council decided to drop the price of a complaint to a refundable fee of £100 in line with neighbouring Kirklees.

But people blighted by high hedges in areas such as Brighouse and Shelf will still need to fork out £320 to Calderdale Council just to complain.

Bradford councillor Vanda Greenwood, (Lab, Windhill and Wrose) who has campaigned for years to get the legislation passed, has welcomed the reduction in cost.

"This way you pay your money and if successful you get it back again. It's the right thing to do.

"When the Council was talking about charging £320 people were saying what do we pay our council tax for. It was ridiculous."

Since June councils have had the power to order hedges taller than two metres be trimmed down to size.

If the landowners fail to comply the council can do the work and bill the householder or take them to court to face fines of up to £1,000.

About 50 inquiries have been made in Bradford although there is yet to be a formal complaint. Coun Greenwood is expecting an influx now the charges are refundable.

A Council spokesman said: "We will charge people a £100 fee to investigate a complaint about high hedges. This is refundable if the complaint is found to be valid.

"The £320 figure was simply a recommendation put forward to Councillors in a report. The members chose not to accept this and introduced the alternative charge."

A spokesman for the Calderdale Council stressed the £320 figure was simply a recommendation put to councillors and they may choose not to accept it.

Like Bradford, Kirklees had also planned on charging £320, but this was cut to £100 earlier this year after protests.

In both districts this fee is further reduced to £20 for people claiming Council Tax benefits.

As yet there have been no complaints to Calderdale Council under the new anti-social behaviour legislation and the £320 fee will be subject to review.

There have been 16 complaints across Kirklees so far and four of these have ended with notices being served on the hedge-owner.

This includes Barry Pickersgill of Hartshead who won his five-year battle over a neighbour's high hedge last month.

l Anyone complaining needs to show they have already tried to resolve the issue with the hedge owner.

The hedge must also be too high and contain a line of two or more evergreen trees or shrubs which blocks light from the neighbour's home.

For further information or to complain about a nuisance hedge call the following numbers: Bradford (01274) 434297; Kirklees (01484) 416938; Calderdale (01422) 392218.