The owner of a house featured in Love Actually has grown so frustrated with tourists darkening her doorstep that they have been forced to seek a band on visitors from their local council.
The Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea has taken the unusual step to ask tourists to respect the privacy of the owner of the pink house in Notting Hill.
The home is world famous thanks to Richard Curtis’ 2003 romantic comedy and the scene where Andrew Lincoln's character Mark declares his love for Kiera Knightley’s character Juliet by holding up signs outside while Chiwetel Ejiofor’s Peter sits watching TV.
The property has become a tourist hot spot thanks to film fans sharing the location via social media and blog posts - but the owner of the home has had enough.
“[The council is] stepping in to help protect the resident’s privacy and encourage visitors to try out other famous locations in the borough,” a spokesperson for the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea has declared.
The council suggests fans visit Portobello Road as an alternative - thanks to the famous street being featured in the 2014 film Paddington, as well as it’s 2017 sequel.
They also suggest Kensington Gardens - famous for a comedic fight scene between Colin Firth and Hugh Grant’s chapters in the 2004 film Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason.
“I had no idea this house was in the film when I bought it before the Instagram craze and now I am living under a blanket of selfies, tour guides and a queue of tourists lining up to take photos on weekends,” the current home owner said.
“They even walk into my house if the door is open thinking it’s some sort of theme park,” she added.
The owner has, however, used the unwanted attention to do some good - by setting up a donation box outside the house to raise funds for a homeless charity.
“Trying to make a good thing out of this intrusive situation I am asking that people respect the fact that not everyone has a home over their head and donate to homeless charities, either themselves or through the little pink box outside,” she said.
“I have helped several people into shelters and all proceeds go to local good causes,” the homeowner - who wishes to remain anonymous - continued.
“Those who make money out of bringing tours round to the mews, sometimes in a blacked out minibus, for their own personal gain should think twice,” she warned.
The house itself is believed to be worth over £1 million.
