A tearful young couple who had waged a battle to remove two planters in the grounds of the Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church in Teddington which blocked the windows of their lower-ground flat were celebrating today after a massive show of support and outrage from the local community.

Actor, Cengiz Dervis and his family had been kept in the 'dark' after the neighbouring church in Kingston Road placed oversized and 'bespoke' plant troughs over two flank windows, filling the exact space of the windows and fully blocking the light to their apartment and claim they were told by the church: "You have no right to light."

Mr Dervis made an emotional video with his partner and his baby daughter describing their plight which he described as "spiteful and nasty" and prompting local outrage and anger at the actions of the church over the Easter weekend with hundreds of messages of support and criticism of the Church.

In a social media post Mr Dervis wrote: "No right to light. Be interested to hear your thoughts on this people. Our neighbour, a beautiful church in Teddington has told us that we have 'no right to light'... through our flank windows that cannot be opened nor can you see through them! After six months of living here they built from decking oversized flower pots and have completely covered both windows so on a sunny day it's gloomy inside our home! The building has full planning permission @richmond_council for these flank windows and they'd written to the church to request they move the pots but they cannot do any more than that! We simply cannot believe the Church or anyone for that matter would do such a mean thing!"

One social media post said: "Your video clearly shows that the church's flower troughs have been built to the exact dimensions to cover your windows. There is ample space for them to be placed elsewhere. This is hardly a very "Christian" thing to do; church authorities should hang their heads in shame. Refer them back to the Book of Genesis - And god said, let there be light, and there was light. It's appalling what they've done."

Within 24 hours of the first video Mr Dervis and his family were celebrating after church officials from Westminster came to the church and removed the two planters to the side and were "very, very apologetic" allowing light to enter the apartment for the first time on one of the sunniest days of the year, when temperatures were due to reach 25 degrees.

In a second video an emotional Mr Dervis fought back tears as he said thank you to Teddington. He said: "Thank for all those who reached out and for getting in touch with various bodies which have obviously had an impact. The power of the neighbourhood and social media."

In the clip he showed how the pots had been moved to the side and declared: "Let there be light!"

He told Teddington Nub News: "WOW the community have been simply amazing. We're blown away by the support they've shown us. So many comments, messages, tons of great advice and people offering their time to help us fight this. We're so very grateful to everyone for giving us a voice.

"One short life that soon will pass, only what's done with love will last. All the very best Cengiz, Silvia & Luna"

Cengiz's story