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A crazy golf course owner has been forced to move a giant GORILLA after locals dubbed it 'Peeping Kong' - and said it was staring into their homes.

The 'Rumble In The Jungle' row erupted when residents in Dawlish went bananas over the massive 7ft fibre-glass primate.

The gorilla was the main feature of the new £250,000 course and had been positioned facing away from the sea - towards a row of large town houses.

But residents said the gorilla's ''piercing'' eyes were staring through their windows - and felt like an invasion of privacy.

They complained and the exasperated golf course owner agreed to move the gorilla 180 degrees so it faced the sea - away from the homes.

But the bust-up is not over - because other residents are now unhappy they have been left looking at the ape's BOTTOM.

Bemused owner Robert Phipps said: "You couldn’t make it up. There's no pleasing some people."

Robert said he has spent more than £250,000 developing his crazy golf course at Dawlish, Devon, with its safari themed ­collection of high quality model animals.

He runs a similar Jurassic Park themed seafront course in ­neighbouring Teignmouth where his father, also named Robert, is the deputy mayor.

He added: "It will be good for the local ­economy by drawing extra tourists into the town. I don’t understand how anyone could take offence.

"We couldn’t believe the Peeping Tom complaint so soon after we opened. It’s only a lifelike replica for goodness sake

"Even when we took it seriously and agreed to change the gorilla’s ­position we were threatened with legal action.

"And other folk wanted to know why we scattered models including lion, giraffe, elephant,ostrich and the town’s signature black swans around the course.

"They thought cows, sheep and pigs would have been more appropriate for the area. I give up. But at least the visitors seem to like it."

Dawlish town mayor Lisa Mayne backed Robert in his actions.

She said: "I'm amazed that people have taken exception to his gorilla, but Mr Phipps acted promptly to address their concerns and turn the other cheek.

"I think it’s a high class attraction which is very good for our town. It has brightened up a very dull part of the resort and I love it."

One local resident, who didn't want to be named, said: "We just didn't like the gorilla looking in at us, it was a bit creepy and people maybe don't realise the size of it. But I am not sure what's worse, it's staring eyes or that we now have to look at its bum.

"Some clearly think this is just a big joke but for us it is no laughing matter and no-one really seems to be taking our concerns seriously."

Other residents who live close to the site said it was ridiculous that the gorilla had generated such complaints.

Ash Sharrat, 26, a takeaway manager from Dawlish, said: "The people complaining are in the flats opposite, they thought the gorilla was invading their privacy so they turned it round and now they're complaining about it's backside.

"It's all from those flats, that's all I know."

An unnamed neighbour from Brookdale Terrace, said: "We live opposite the crazy golf course, I don't think it's a problem.

"I've heard people are complaining about it's bottom - I can't understand it.

"I have no idea what that's about, it's just a bit of fun for the children and the people who visit Dawlish.

"Some people just like to complain."

Writing on facebook, Karl Woodhall-Cooper said: "I think the miserable complainants would be better asking for snails. Similar to the speed they are capable of driving. Never mind, a little free publicity for the new place.

"If the kids are happy and it brings in tourists then great. Looks great to me."

Wendy Chadwick wrote: "Please don't lump the whole of the town with a few miserable people, who have nothing better to do than walk up to the back of a gorilla and look at its bottom,

"Having passed this way quite a few times since the arrival of this great new attraction I have not once felt the need to gaze at his bum. Please get a life, go and do something positive with your time. If not keep your narrow minded negative thoughts to yourselves."

Tracey Taylor wrote: "How sad and pathetic can people be? it’s not real! think it’s great for our town."

Julie Yates added: "People like this make me bloody sick if you don't like it move then."

Watch next: Sygnets in Dawlish