A RETIRED teacher has threatened to sue a council after it REMOVED her beach hut without her knowledge.

       Michele Spicer is fighting to get her seaside hut back after alleging Worthing Borough Council "illegally" moved it from its spot in Goring-by-Sea, West Sussex.

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       Michele Spicer plans to sue her council in Worthing after it removed her beach hut without her knowledge Credit: Chris Eades

       The mum-of-two paid ￡15,500 for the beloved hut last year - but has since been told its value has risen to ￡35,000.

       Michele is now desperate to get her property back and plans to sue the council for the trouble they’ve caused.

       “This is with a solicitor as we speak,” she told The Sun Online.

       “It’s been with a solicitor for some weeks now.

       “Absolutely, 1,000 per cent I’m going to sue them - I want that beach hut back.

       “They have taken the beach hut without my knowledge.

       “They trespassed on private property and changed the lock and they didn’t give me an opportunity to get my belongings back.”

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       Michele says her row with the council started when she began parking her Mercedes in a "private" car park.

       She had been using the car park to access her hut just yards away, which infuriated locals - who left notes and even dog poo in her car in a bid to get her to move.

       Michele was handed a Community Protection Warning and before long, the council had stripped her of her licence and removed her hut altogether.

       She explained: "They said I hadn't paid my licence fee, but they sent the reminder to the wrong address.

       "When I moved to Worthing on March 23, I notified the council immediately.

       "I rung up to pay it and they refused to take the payment they said they’d terminated my licence."

       HUT HELD

       Michelle's hut is now being held at Adur and Worthing council offices - but the disgruntled hut owner claims it's been badly damaged in the move.

       She has begged the council to move the hut to her front drive if nothing else, but says they have ignored her pleas for help.

       The hut owner claims she's also been told she will need to pay for every day her belongings from inside the hut are stored by the council - even though she wants them back.

       She added: “The solicitors have said they have got to pay me ￡35,000 because that is what the beach hut is worth.

       I’m going to sue them - I want that beach hut back.

       Michele SpicerBeach hut owner

       “Prices have gone up in the area and I put a lot of work into that beach hut.”

       In addition to the cost of her hut, Michele paid an extra ￡1,000 to build a terrace outside - something she will also demand back in costs.

       She also says the hut is of great sentimental value to her, after she bought it using inheritance from her late dad, who she wanted to remember with the hut.

       Michele said court proceedings are yet to be finalised and she is battling to pay lawyers for their time.

       She is now pleading with the public for their support.

       A spokesman for Worthing Borough Council recently told The Argus: “We are sorry it has come to this but for the first time in about 25 years we have had to take eviction action at one of our beach huts.

       “The number of complaints received from local residents really left us with no choice but to conclude that Ms Spicer has breached the terms of her lease.”

       The council has been contacted for further comment.

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       Michele is battling to get her case heard in court Credit: Chris Eades 6

       The hut was originally moved behind the other huts Credit: Michele Spicer 6

       It's now been placed by council offices Credit: Michele Spicer 6

       The council had padlocked her hut without her knowledge - while her belongings were still inside Credit: Chris Eades 6

       Locals had left furious notes on her car in a row about parking

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