Trabant man's appeal turned down

The Trabants are in Mr Goodall's back garden

A Derbyshire man has lost an appeal against an order which demanded he clear up his Trabant car collection.

Graham Goodall, 58, claimed the order to remove 40 of his 49 vehicles from his home in Middleton-by-Youlgreave, Derbyshire breached his human rights.

But a judge dismissed the argument and also ruled the local authority had done nothing wrong in serving a notice on him while he was out of the country.

After the judgement Mr Goodall vowed to continue his fight to keep the cars.

Famous symbol

Peak District National Park Authority said it acted after repeated complaints from residents about the "eyesore" collection of East German cars.

Martin Carter, prosecuting, said Mr Goodall forfeited the right to challenge the order because he did not respond to it within the legal time limit.

Judge John Wait also criticised Mr Goodall for not seeking planning permission in the first place, saying the problem could have been solved if he had.

Mr Goodall said he would be consulting his lawyers to see what steps could now be taken to preserve his collection and his right to use his land as he wanted.

He has spent years amassing the world's biggest assortment of the famously awful cars that one symbolised a divided Europe, but now trade for up to £7,000.