They’ve been his lifelong obsession, but retired engineer Peter Hardle’s love of old cars is driving planning officials round the bend.

Eight vehicles including a van, vintage cars and a unique three-wheeler fill the front garden of his home.

There are four vintage motorcycles in a bedroom with two more and a couple of scooters in a shed at the bottom of the garden in Tinkers Lane, Brewood. The congestion prompted South Staffordshire Council to drop a Christmas Eve bombshell and rule that the collection should be cut to three vehicles within six weeks.

They also told 63-year-old Mr Hardle to apply for planning permission for the 20ft-long timber shed in the back garden and warned that it would not necessarily be granted. This could see them order its demolition.

Mr Hardle says he was told he did not need permission when it was built several years ago as it replaced demolished buildings.

“I have no intention of complying with their demands,” he said today. “I am infuriated by the timing and content of this correspondence.” He described his vehicles as his pride and joy, and said: “Passers-by regularly stop and ask to have a look.”

He refuted a claim by the council that the land is being used to sell vehicles although he admitted accepting £450 for an elderly Porsche. Lucy Macdonald, a local authority official involved in the case, said: “The storage is over and above what is normally considered acceptable in planning terms.”