A PENSIONER who has held out for 13 days against a council's attempt to evict him from an industrial compound has insisted it was the authority who put him there in the first place.

John Petch, known as Husky, refused to leave the compound in Dormanstown, Redcar where he stores vintage machinery and curiosities when officials tried to evict him two weeks ago.

Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council own the property and want the retired steelworker to leave.

However Mr Petch explained he originally kept his machinery at his own property and he wanted to stay, but it was actually the council who required him to move to the compound.

The 66-year-old, who has had a stroke and is staying in a caravan on the site, said that he had spent his own money over the last 15 years making the compound, which had previously been derelict, safe and secure.

He said: "There's derelict property I would go to that the council have, but they've turned down every proposition my people have made to them.

"I have actually been the guardian of this place and spent my own money on it, making it safe."

The council could not be contacted for comment yesterday.

However the authority, which owns the compound, has consistently insisted the site is dangerous.

The council also says it is open to a practical solution, is happy to meet with Mr Petch, and the authority is trying with housing association Coast and County Housing to a more suitable place for the pensioner.