Farmer vows to fight for his dream 'castle'

Robert Fidler, 61, voiced his defiance after the High Court refused to block an enforcement notice threatening his dream home with demolition.

Mr Fidler said desperation had driven him to build the house clandestinely at Honeycrock Farm on Axes Lane in Salfords, Redhill, Surrey, and without permission as he and his family had been denied a proper home.

Saying he would appeal all the way to the European Court of Human Rights if necessary.

He constructed his castle from two redundant grain silos to create a castle topped with turrets.

He and his wife Linda, 40, and their son Harry, nine, moved in in 2002, and for four years kept it hidden from the local planning authority, Reigate & Banstead Borough Council, behind its shield of straw and tarpaulin.

Mr Fidler thought that if he could live in it secretly for four years he would have immunity under the planning laws.

But the council issued an enforcement notice in March 2007. A Government planning inspector rejected Mr Fidler's appeal in May 2008 and a High Court judge upheld that decision yesterday.