he Borders Council is seeking to slap an anti-social behavior order against the owner of a cockerel which crows too early and too loudly.

According to the Scotsman, the council is demanding Kenneth Williamson to keep his three year-old rooster, named Charlie, silent between 11pm and 7am. If he fails to do so, he will be declared an Asbo.

An Asbo is a civil order made against a person who has been shown to have engaged in conduct which caused or was likely to cause alarm, harassment or distress to one or more persons. It was introduced by the Crime and Disorder Act 1998 in the United Kingdom.

The report said the rooster's crowing was recorded to have exceeded the 30 decibel limit set by the World Health Organization.

Neighbors said Charlie lives in the garden of Williamson's house on the outskirts of Selkirk, along with hens, ducks and a goat.

Sixty-six-year-old George Madfarlane, who owns a lodging house complains, "This has been going on every day for the past two years, and enough is enough. It is absolutely hellish."

"If the cockerel does not wake you up, then the geese or the dogs will. For instance, this morning the dogs were barking like mad at 3 a.m., then the cockerel started crowing at 4.15 a.m."

But the 59-year-old Williamson, defended his rooster and said, "I've had him since he was an egg. I have also had his mum and dad and their mum and dad. We go back generations."

However, keeping Charlie quiet is not as easy as everyone desires.

Kerr Scott, the council's Asbo officer, said, "The vet has informed me there is nothing that can be done to keep a cockerel quiet, other than wring its neck."