Heather Ripley, 39, faces being removed from a house she rents in Broughty Ferry, which neighbours Dundee.

The action has been brought by her aunt and uncle, who are trustees of the �100,000 property.

Another scene from the film

They are asking for eviction, claiming rent arrears on the property amounting to more than �7,000 and because she is alleged to have allowed it to fall into disrepair.

Miss Ripley, who now uses the surname Glaisyer, played the role of Jemima in the classic 1968 children's film Chitty Chitty Bang Bang starring Dick van Dyke.

She later abandoned the big screen to become an anti-nuclear and environmental campaigner.

Miss Ripley says she has a verbal agreement with her grandmother, who once owned the house, which allows her to live there.

Her defence also alleges that she has been prevented from paying rent by the trustees.

Miss Ripley began renting the house two years ago after her grandfather Frank Ripley died and her grandmother Mary moved into a nursing home.

The case is being heard in Dundee

The house and the proceeds of the sale of the family optician business were left in trust to Miss Ripley, her uncle Kenneth Ripley and her aunt Margaret Harris.

When the grandmother dies the three will receive equal shares of the family money but in the meantime Miss Ripley's aunt and uncle want her out of the house so it can be let to other tenants.

Dundee Sheriff Court was told by her solicitor Brian Fitzpatrick that she was currently taking part in an anti-nuclear demonstration at Faslane Royal Naval base, home to Britain's fleet of Trident nuclear submarines.

Sheriff James Scott continued the case until 26 August for further legal argument.

Miss Ripley has a 14-year-old son Cosmo and a daughter Josie, 11.