A DAD-of-two has lost the battle to keep his daughters' much-loved playhouse after a complaint to the council.

Council chiefs have ordered Brendan Burke to take down a two-story playhouse which his children Tilly-May, six, and Amelia-Rose Burke were given from their uncle in May.

The family, from Airdrie, North Lanarkshire, had been forced to submit a planning application in a bid to keep the playhouse following an anonymous complaint about it.

Dad Brendan had 28 days to make their case before North Lanarkshire council demanded it to be taken down.

The furious 27-year-old managed to collect 1,000 signatures supporting his case to keep it in his garden which he submitted to the local authority.

But on June 30 the family received a letter from the council saying the playhouse had to be taken down because "it's too high".

Brendan and his kids were devastated by the news but he says "there is no point" appeal the decision.

He said: "I am so gutted to hear the news it's just so sad for the kids. I told them the news and they cried a bit.

"I have 10 days to appeal but there's no point in me appealing the decision because I feel like I would have to take them to court and that would cost a fortune.

"It's more hassle than its worth.

"And I love my house so I would not want to ruin my tenancy agreement. I can't even put it on my back garden because the way it's designed it's like on a slope.

"I think this is just shocking. I don't know who made the complaint but I think it's just a lowlife, jealous person."

The construction worker believes his children's joy has been tarnished.

The playhouse has brought kids from the neighbourhood together to play on the structure rather than the nearby council-run play park.

He added: "It's a kids playhouse, it's not even a party den.

"I'm just going to move it to one of the family houses so that the kids can play with it there because I do not want them to go to that park. It's too unsafe.

"They didn't even acknowledge my petition they just said it's too high but I find that funny considering I didn't see them come and measure it.

"It's a bit unfair to be honest, it's all fixed with pins so it won't fall. I'll probably leave it out until they give me a date to take it down."

A spokesman for North Lanarkshire Council said: "Our tenant has been refused permission to keep the play facility in his front garden but we are working closely with him to find a more suitable location which would have less of an impact on people who live nearby."