A pensioner ordered to tear down an illegal shed in his garden says his battle with the council is not over despite being told to pay £20,000 after a failed appeal.

Neil Woodward, 69, has been locked in a six-year battle with Sutton Council after it ordered him to tear down an outbuilding in his back garden, in Hawthorne Road, Wallington.

Sutton Council claims the building flouts development rules and Mr Woodward faced his third conviction over what he called a "games room" and was hit with a fine and costs totalling £20,000 in October, but the retired father said he is considering taking his case to the House of Lords as he still feels he was right to refuse to take the building down.

He said: "My wife and I are both pensioners and we are expected to pay this astronomical amount of money which I will be paying off into my 80s. I am allowed to use the land for that purpose and I will defend that position."

Mr Woodward has the option of applying to magistrates to vary the crown court order.

A spokesperson for Sutton Council, said: “We are dedicated to protecting the look of the borough and protecting residents from unlawful developments.

“We worked for a number of years to ensure the demolition of this construction and will work to prevent any similar development anywhere in the borough.”