A Brontë Society spokesman has confirmed the organisation will be looking into a complaint about an “unsightly” security camera system, installed in the Parsonage museum’s grounds.

She was responding to Haworth resident Justin Ponter, who said he first spotted the CCTV attached to a tree in the garden last week.

Mr Ponter, who lives in Sun Street, said he was amazed such a visually intrusive piece of equipment had been given planning permission in such an historic area.

He added the tree the camera has been placed on meant its positioning was particularly insensitive.

“This is a Cypress pine, which is one of a pair said to have been planted by Charlotte Brontë and her husband, Arthur Bell Nicholls, as part of their wedding celebrations in the summer of 1854,” he said.

“I intend to contact English Heritage about my concerns.”

Mr Ponter said the CCTV system comprised a cable running up the tree trunk connected to an electrical box and the actual camera, which is trained on the Parsonage museum’s main entrance.

He said he first noticed it last Tuesday, and assumes it has only been in place for a few days.

“It looks more like something you’d see attached to a telegraph pole,” he said. “It stands out like a sore thumb, and this is right outside a Grade I listed building in an historic area.

“I don’t know how anyone could have thought the camera would look alright in this location.

“The Brontës are very precious and sacred to a lot of people, and if this really is the tree that Charlotte planted with her husband, then there’s no way that camera should stay there.”

Responding this week to Mr Ponter’s complaint, the Bronte Society spokesman said: “We take seriously any concerns made to us about such matters. We will be carrying out our own investigations.”