AN 85-year-old pensioner fears he could be forced out of the house his family have lived in for almost a century over a wheelie bin dispute.

Cliff Kitching, from Nunthorpe, near Middlesbrough, accesses his front garden with his wheelie bins through a Victorian courtyard which is owned by the council.

However, the authority aims to sell the land to a housing developer – shutting off access to the courtyard.

The father-of-two said it would be impossible for him to pull the wheelie bins 200 yards along a detour path scattered with trees, fences and washing lines, and so he will be forced to move.

Cliff, who racked up £9,000 in legal bills trying to fight the council’s plans, collapsed at the tribunal hearing.

He said: "Since this case started I have been in hospital several times. I have had 30 blood transfusions in the last four months.”

Cliff said he was "right as rain" and "enjoying life" until he heard about the council's plans around two years ago.

The retired joiner, who lost his wife Eleanor four-and-a-half years ago, is the third generation of his family to have lived in the village.

He has two children and a grandson and is awaiting the result of the tribunal which was held on August 4 in Leeds.

He added: "My family are very supportive but they are limited as to what they can do.

"The council don't see my point of view at all, they said they will fight it to the end.”

Middlesbrough Council have been contacted about the case but have not yet responded.