And finally… Fred shredded

The former chief executive of the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) angered surrounding residents at his home in Colinton, Edinburgh with his massive hedge which hid the £3.5 million property from surrounding homes.

However, residents availed themselves of the scourge of the leylandii – the High Hedges (Scotland) Act 2013.

They claimed the hedge blocked light and stopped their own plants from growing. The act allows councils to compel owners to cut their hedges which are over 6ft 6 inches tall if they block light.

If owners do not arrange for the hedges to be reduced themselves, councils can have the work carried out themselves.

Edinburgh City Council handed Mr Goodwin an enforcement notice ordering the reduction of the hedges, requiring they be cut down to a maximum height of 14ft.

Mr Goodwin resigned in 2008 before RBS revealed losses of £24.1 billion – the greatest annual loss in British corporate history.