Tipi's at Bertie's Barn near Norwich is targeted by vandal

Lea Hood, 46, was appalled when her daughter came home crying with faeces all over her hands which had been left on a sign for their business, Tipi's at Bertie's Barn, at the end of their drive in Keswick.

Only after Lea checked her home CCTV footage did she discover that a neighbour had deliberately dumped the waste over the sign in an apparent act of protest. 

The waste was left on the sign to the wedding venue at the end of the family's drive (Image: Lea Hood)

And it isn't the first time Lea and her young family have been subject to acts of hate and spite. 

"It started pretty much from the day we moved in three years ago," she said. 

"Before even setting up the venue we had poo bags thrown onto the property, hundreds of pounds worth of plants sprayed with industrial weed killer and regular false reports of animal abuse to the RSPCA.

"One time somebody reported that we had immigrants living in our barn which we had to show to the police and council wasn't true." 

Lea's daughter was distraught after accidentally putting her hand in the muck (Image: Lea Hood)

But the attacks have ramped up since setting up the wedding venue, Lea said, which makes use of a five-acre plot with a large open-air tent and yurts.

"The aim is to hold eight to 10 weddings spread out over a four month period so it doesn't feel like an every night of the week kind of thing for anyone living locally," she continued.

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"And we've been very conscious about music levels and timings, with staff on the car park ensuring guests do not wander off into Keswick.

"Having worked in the wedding industry for 20 years we knew we would come up against negative feedback but we've recently found our signs broken or thrown into bushes, as well as other damage to our property."

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Police officers are due to speak to Lea on Sunday about the incident, which happened at the weekend, and enquiries are currently ongoing.

She added: "I want to make it clear it's only a handful of people from Keswick Hall who are targeting us.

Lea (far right) and her family have endured years of harassment from aggrieved locals (Image: Lea Hood)

"I absolutely get not everyone will be happy, it's change, but at some point something will happen with this land and we've tried really hard to bring it back to life and create a natural habit for wildlife by planting acres of wildflowers which everyone can see and enjoy, all day every day.

"We have tried to open up communication with anyone who is unhappy but they prefer to behave like this instead.

"The upkeep of the land costs money, so the land needs to make money, and I don't think 10 days out of 365 for it to remain a pleasure to see, rather than a housing estate, isn't a bad compromise."