A neighbour from hell has left a family fearing they will lose their pets, after a single Facebook complaint, prompting a council investigation.

The anonymous Facebook post could force an Isle of Wight family to lose their beloved pet cockerels if the council investigation goes against them.

The sarcastic post on a Havenstreet community group asked whether residents were disturbed by roosters crowing in the morning.

Despite neighbours responding that they had no issues with the birds, the post prompted Environmental Health officials to launch an investigation into Paul and Kirstie Hayler's rare chicken breeding operation.

The couple have now been served with a noise abatement notice concerning their cockerels, Salty and Pepper, the Telegraph reports.

The Hayler's risk losing their beloved cockerels (stock pic)

The enforcement action means the family must reduce or eliminate the noise from their pets or face potential prosecution.

The Haylers now face the heartbreaking prospect of either finding new homes for Salty and Pepper or having them put down.

This decision carries particular weight for their two autistic sons, who have formed strong emotional bonds with the birds.

Kirsty stated: "They're our pets and our two autistic sons are really attached to them."

The family have kept chickens at their rural property for seven years, with the birds becoming integral parts of their household.

Kirsty said: "Our eldest chicken died last weekend, and I cried and cried, she was such a fab chicken."

The Environmental Health investigation has drawn criticism from Kirsty, who described the process as "farcical" and overly rigid.

Sound monitoring equipment was initially installed in the family's flat, with an officer promising to advise them on potential solutions.

"[The officer] told us he would be back in touch to advise us on what we could do, so we were kind of reassured at that point," the resident said.

The resident could be forced to find new homes for Salty and Pepper or have them put down (stock pic)

However, despite responding to a meeting invitation within the requested timeframe, the family instead received an abatement notice through their door.

Kirsty said: "It's very black and white, and there doesn't seem to be any room for other considerations, like the fact that we live rurally, and the fact that they're children's pets.

"It's all very clinical. There's no human touch to it."

GB News has approached the Isle of Wight Council for comment.