Britons may lose dream home

A British couple face having to pull down their holiday home in northern Cyprus after the Court of Appeal ruled demolition orders from a Nicosia court must be enforced.

By The Newsroom

Published 19th Jan 2010, 22:20 BST

Updated 19th Jan 2010, 22:21 BST

David and Linda Orams spent their life's savings on the villa and pool after buying land in the Turkish part of the divided island in 2002.

But the original owner of the land, who fled south in 1974 when Turkish troops moved in, took court action.

This resulted in judgments in the Nicosia District Court in the Republic of Cyprus ordering demolition of the villa.

The couple were also ordered to give back the property to the original owner, Meletios Apostolides, and pay him damages.

The ruling of the Nicosia court, is now enforceable in the UK.

Cyprus