Dragon's Den star Duncan Bannatyne has pledged to help out an elderly Northwich couple who face being fined by Cheshire West and Chester Council for planting a flower bed.

The Chronicle reported this week that Colin and Kath Helsey, both 76, have been warned by CWaC officials that the flowers they have been planting on a grass verge outside their home for the past 16 years, were in fact 'criminally damaging the highway.'

They were told to remove the plants and 'reseed' the area at their own expense, as they were committing a 'criminal offence'.

Since their story went public, the Halseys, of Walnut Avenue, Weaverham, have received widespread support from across the nation and TV entrepreneur Bannatyne has now also given his backing, by offering to pay any fine the couple may face by refusing to remove the flowers.

He tweeted: "If Kath & Colin Halsey are fined for planting a flower bed in Weaverham I will gladly pay it for them."

Mr Halsey, who has lived in his home for 53 years, said he will not back down on the issue and told The Chronicle he was even willing to spend a few days in jail.

He spoke of the happy memories he has of planting the flower bed with his late  grandson Neil before the 40-year-old lost  his battle with cancer last year.

CWaC offical John Barnes told the Halseys they did not have permission for their flower-bed during a village inspection, and shortly afterwards, they received a letter stating that had still not removed the  plants, and had even added extra ones.

The letter said: “I write to require the  following works to remove all the planting  that you have inserted and to restore the  verge to its original state prior to you  undertaking planting activity.”

It ordered Mr Halsey to level the ground, warning if the works were not carried out, CWaC would consider options including prosecution and/or a complaint to the magistrates court.

Mr Halsey, who has three children, 10 grandchildren, 18 great grandchildren and two great great grandchildren, told The Chronicle: “We are very disappointed with what’s happened.

“We’ve lived here 53 years and took our lead in planting these flowers from the former Vale Royal Borough Council, who planted trees 15 years ago in honour of the new Millennium.

“As a former gardener, I take great pride in my plants. The flower bed has become special to me because I planted it with my late grandson. “We helped do it together and I don’t want to just dig it all up.”

He added: “I’d prefer it not to go to court but I feel so strongly about it that I’m prepared to see it through – it’s the principle.

“The council says if an accident happened on the flower bed it would not be known who was liable if someone got sued. They suggested we should have a tarmac drive but why can't we have a nice flower bed?

“They said they’d send contractors out to dig it up and send me the bill but I’m quite happy to spend a few days in jail!

“It’s just baffling how the old council didn’t mind it but this one is threatening us with a criminal record.”

A CWaC spokesman said: “We have a responsibility to maintain grass verges and it’s difficult to do that if there's individual things people have done on their own.

“Ideally we would like to work out ways with communities to enhance public areas areas like this one but we need to be aware of where abouts they are.

“We need some kind of formal agreement in place where we can work alongside residents and parish councils.”