Deadline looms for eviction pair

Mr and Mrs Sims have lived in the property for 36 years

A pensioner has said he is prepared to go to jail and start a hunger strike rather than be forcibly removed from his Lincolnshire home.

Noel Sims, 75, and his wife Shirley face being evicted in a week and having their home demolished to allow improvements to the A1 in Lincolnshire.

The Highways Agency has compulsory purchased their house and land at Colsterworth, near Grantham.

Mr Sims said he and his wife would not move out of their home.

The Highways Agency has said it will therefore have no choice but to forcibly evict them.

The couple have been offered compensation and a council house but they say they have the right to stay.

'Alternative properties'

Mr Sims, who has lived at the property with his wife for 36 years, said he would not move unless he was offered double the original offer of £300,000 in compensation.

"If they come and arrest me on Friday they'll lock me up. When they chuck the food through the cell door I'll chuck it back at them and I shall not eat anything or drink anything," he said.

Colin Chadwick from the Highways Agency said: "My team has worked doubly hard through the last several months to try to avoid this situation.

"We've even gone to the extent of showing alternative properties to them.

"All along the line we've been trying to give good advice and support them through this difficult time."

The Highways Agency wants to put a road junction on the Sims' land to improve road safety on the A1.

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Noel Sims and his wife will be evicted from their Colsterworth home which has been compulsory purchased.