A 76-year-old woman in Botley, Hampshire, brought reinforcement work on a 20ft garden wall to a halt by parking her mobility scooter in front of diggers, prompting the building firm to call the police. Mary Roberts, a retired construction project manager, said she was protesting because contractors had done "a hatchet job" that had damaged neighbours' gardens and, she feared, put her sister's bungalow at risk despite the housing association holding valid planning permission.

The stand-off occurred on 1 September after Roberts objected to heavy machinery being used near the wall, worried it could collapse, and said her sister's home had suffered water leaks during the works, which the housing association Vivid denies responsibility for. Police were called at 8.13am to Cheping Gardens, spoke to all parties, and reported that Roberts moved on and no crime was identified; Vivid said it aims to minimise disruption and keep residents informed as repairs continue.