Stratford District Council has ordered Heart of England farms to take down cages for keeping pheasants and partridges - arguing the land is now being used for industrial purposes.

It also wants farmer Ole Gronning to remove buildings for keeping the birds, as well as storage containers and mobile homes for workers, because it says they were built without permission to change the use of the land.

Residents have complained that flies, noise and smell from pens on the Henley road farm may be affecting the value of their homes, and that development has marred views from the village.

Animal rights activists complained about conditions on the farm in 2005, although none of their allegations referred to illegal practices.

Kington Lane resident Roy Hopkins is one of those who have opposed expansion on the site. He said: "Game farming is industrial.

"He has expanded this farm without any planning permission and now Stratford District Council has served four enforcement notices on him."

Enforcement officer Lech Kocon explained the council decided to take the action after farmer Ole Gronning went ahead with construction on the site, even after the district council turned down permission for a 1,045ft storage unit.

He said the council had taken legal advice stating that game birds were not agricultural birds, and the farm needed to apply for a change of use certificate.

He added attempts to negotiate had failed but that Mr Gronning still had "room to manoeuvre" and the matter could be resolved without any financial penalty, if the farmer moved the birds and buildings away from nearby houses.

Mr Gronning must either remove the birds and buildings, appeal or apply to change the use of the farm to industrial purposes.

If he does not take action by the end of February 2008, the authority may take steps to remove them.

A spokesman for Heart of England Farms said: "This campaign by a particularly vociferous neighbour has been ongoing for 20 years.

"We prefer to channel our energies into the business rather than replying to his continuous allegations."