A homeowner with an untidy garden faces four months in jail and �15,000 in fines for not cleaning up his property.

Council workers and contractors teamed up on Thursday to clear out Graham Ellison's garden after eight years of complaints from neighbours.

Mr Ellison defied a court order to tidy it up and the court bailiffs have since been unable to find him.

He had denied doing anything wrong, but his neighbours on Fife Street in Alvaston said his property was a health hazard.

Vermin problems

Among the litter were abandoned building materials, motorbikes and domestic appliances.

Last month he was found guilty of contempt of court at Derby County Court.

Councillor Sara Bolton of Derby City Council said: "I have been on the council for 16 years and this is the worst case I have ever seen.

"It is appalling that the neighbours have had to put up with such a mess for so long," she said.

Workers found newspapers that dated back to 1974 on the property.

Nick Manning, one of the contract workers, said: "The problem with these sorts of properties is that they are breeding grounds for vermin."