SELF-SUFFICIENT couple Peter and Denise Martin, who are fighting Kennet District Council in order to establish an organic market garden business in Devizes, have received an eviction notice.

At a hearing planned for July 23, a Government planning inspector will assess Mr and Mrs Martin's appeal against the council's refusal to allow them to keep their mobile home on their four-acre plot at Dunkirk Hill Farm.

But, although the hearing is scheduled for July 23, the couple have already received an enforcement notice from the council ordering them to remove the mobile home, which would leave them homeless.

The notice is effective from April 25 and gives them six months to quit. The couple are to appeal against the notice.

Mr Martin, 53, said the enforcement notice had increased the stress on them as they prepare for the appeal hearing.

He said: "It came as a shock and I am angry about it because the council said it wouldn't do anything until the appeal was heard."

The couple have started a petition calling on people to support their business.

Mr Martin works full time on the organic market garden business while his wife is working as an agency nurse to bring in money. The couple's plan is for them both to work on their smallholding and sell organic produce.

They live a self-sufficient lifestyle reminiscent of the TV series The Good Life.

A Kennet District Council spokesman said it was normal procedureto send out an enforcement notice when planning permission is refused.