Fined €922 for falling petals

A WOMAN from Normandy has been ordered by a judge to pay €922 for allowing petals from her prize-winning geraniums to fall on to her neighbour’s balcony below.

According to the juge de proximité in Rouen, Nicole Delaunay broke the law that “no one must cause an unusual disturbance to their neighbours”.

Mrs Delaunay, 57, said: “I have won prizes from the mairie because my geraniums were so beautiful. I’ve had them since 2003. I always got on with my neighbour before, but I think she must be getting bad-tempered with old age.”

She added: “The e922 includes the harm to my neighbour and fees for her barrister and a bailiff whom she asked to check the petals. They have also ordered me to have only upright flowers, not the hanging varieties, which are prettier. I don’t have green-fingers for those. No one can understand why the court convicted me, and there is no right to appeal.”