A HAMPSHIRE man faces losing £20,000 after civic chiefs ordered him to move his caravan from one side of his garden to the other.

Dean Burrows was initially told that he could put a mobile home in his parents’ back garden in 2007 without the need for planning permission.

But after spending almost £40,000 on buying and fitting the mobile home, the 27-year-old was left fuming when he received a letter from Winchester City Council telling him to move it by 50ft or remove it completely.

Dean, of Kiln Lane, Lower Upham, said: “They told me it was fine to put it there 18 months ago but now they are telling me to move it after I have spent all this money.

“They should have sent someone round to tell me where it should go before and not now. To move it where they are suggesting would mean my parents would have to get rid of their orchards and bird aviary. I wouldn’t ask them to do that so I’ll just have to sell it but that will mean losing around £20,000.”

The mechanic bought the caravan three years ago after being struck down with testicular cancer as he wanted to live close to his parents in case it returned.

A spokesman for Winchester City Council said: “Permission was granted for the mobile home to be sited inside the garden of the property. However, where it is actually sited is not what we consider to be the garden.

Therefore we have asked Mr Burrows to move it.”