AN ON-GOING battle with a neighbour from hell' who has flouted council and High Court rulings over planning permission has been bolstered with support from MP Iain Duncan Smith.

Mr Duncan Smith says he plans to take action on behalf of residents of Dale View Crescent, who are living in the shadow of so-called neighbour from hell' Brian Gage.

Mr Gage has disregarded numerous planning laws and three High Court judgements since the 1980s, building bungalows, a swimming pool and a garage, grazing horses and running his airport bus company from land behind the crescent.

Mr Duncan Smith said: "It is outrageous that Brian Gage has been riding roughshod over these residents and getting away with it.

"The High Court has, on three separate occasions, ordered this man to remove his bungalow, which doesn't even have an address.

"The residents have found that the council is unwilling to enforce the judgements and support them against this difficult neighbour, which means the council has failed in its public duty.

"As a matter of urgency, I am writing to the Lord Chancellor and the Ombudsman asking them to intervene. Mr Gage has flouted notice after notice and it's about time he was brought to book."

Costs for court appearances in 1988 were awarded against Mr Gage, who promptly declared himself bankrupt and signed over his property and businesses to a company owned by his wife.

The saga has continued, with Mr Gage ignoring council notices to stop building and orders to stop using the lane behind the houses for commercial business.

Rather than putting an end to Mr Gage's activities, it seems the borough has at last washed its hands of the affair.

In September, the residents' association received a letter signed by Cllr Clyde Loakes, leader of the council, Cllr Keith Rayner, deputy leader, and Jacquie Dean, interim chief executive.

The letter said "members and officers have done all they can to try to resolve this matter" and asked the association to refrain from contacting the council in writing or otherwise.

This week, the Guardian contacted Mr Gage but he refused to comment.