Trabant man begins 'sad' sell-off

Mr Goodall sad he was sad to see the cars go

A man who has spent almost 20 years collecting East German Trabant cars is beginning to sell them off after losing an appeal to keep them.

Graham Goodall has been involved in a dispute with the Peak District Park Authority since 2003 when enforcement notices were issued to move 49 cars.

Residents and visitors to Middleton-by-Youlgreave complained the vehicles were an eyesore.

Mr Goodall is hoping to buy a boat with the proceeds from the car sales.

'Ill health'

"I try not to count them and see them go because it's very sad," said Mr Goodall.

"I've spent nearly 20 years putting together the world's largest private collection of Trabants and now they've got to be dispersed."

Mr Goodall took his appeal against his conviction for failing to comply with the enforcement notices to the High Court but it was upheld.

The Peak District Park Authority said Mr Goodall was originally supposed to have removed the cars by the end of 2005 but it has taken until now for the case to be completed.

Although he is still in breach of the enforcement notices, the authority has given Mr Goodall more time to remove the cars due to his ill health.