A HANLEY Castle couple being sued over the sale of holiday homes have reached an out of court settlement.

The case was brought by six people who last month told Gloucester County Court they thought they would be able to live out their retirement at the mobile home park at Lower Apperley.

But after moving in they discovered the homes were subject to strict planning regulations and could only be used for holidays for two months a year.

At last month's hearing the six sued the owners of the Orchard Park site at Lower Apperley, Harry and Ruby Barr, of Hanley Swan, claiming they had misled them about the true nature of the homes. The six were seeking a total of £300,000 compensation.

This week it was announced that a deal has been struck between the six and the Barrs and the case will not have to return to court.

Solicitor David Mullis, who represented the six - Frank Moss, George Rushbury, Peter and Peggy Tooze and John and Joy Tull - said "The parties have reached a compromise settlement out of court and it has been agreed that the terms of that settlement will not be disclosed".

Mr Moss, aged 69, said "We're very happy with the outcome and we look forward to the future. We would like to thank the people of Tewkesbury, the RAF Association and the media for all the support we have had over the last two years".

At last month's court hearing, the judge, Recorder Robin Belben, was told that the Barrs bought the Orchard Park mobile home site at Lower Apperley in 1993 knowing it was only licensed for holiday homes.

But after eleven months of failing to sell the 30 sites on the land as holiday homes, it was alleged they had not mentioned the planning restrictions when they sold three homes to Mr Tull, aged 58, a sales administrator, and his wife Joy, 57, Mr & Mrs Tooze, who are both aged 70, and ex-services pals George Rushbury, 57, and Frank Moss, 66,