A MAN seen cooking garden birds by his neighbours has been evicted from the garage he was living in on a Colchester estate.

An eviction notice and “health hazard” signs have been stuck on the door of the garage, in Churchill Way, where Martin Lewis was living.

It is understood Mr Lewis moved to the rented garage a few weeks ago.

A nearby resident, who did not want to be named, said: “He’s been urinating and worse outside the garage, which is not what you want at the end of your garden.

“I walked past one morning and he’d got a stove and was cooking little birds. When the police visited, he had a few sparrows in a pan.”

The neighbour said Mr Lewis moved in a few weeks ago and residents immediately contacted police and Colchester Council.

She continued: “He’s rented the garage for a couple of years and he has lived in there before, but moved on.

“We acted as soon as he came back. The council and police have sorted it out very quickly, which I’m really pleased at.”

Residents also contacted Colchester MP Bob Russell, who praised the council for quickly dealing with the situation.

He said: “From first complaint to resolution has taken less than a fortnight, which is excellent.

“The gentleman concerned is an eccentric, but society cannot allow an individual, however eccentric, to put themselves and others at risk by how they live.”

Tim Young, councillor responsible for street and waste services, said he knew from experience how disruptive Mr Lewis can be.

He said: “We have acted with haste and not allowed the problems he was causing to continue and I’m glad to hear that residents are happy with our response.”

Mr Lewis, who was evicted from a flat in Greenstead in 2004 after abusing and intimidating neighbours, could not be contacted for comment.