An 87-year-old woman facing eviction from her home of 60 years today earned a temporary stay of execution after barricading herself inside.
May Appleton's house in the Cheshire village of Lostock Gralam is full of hundreds of dolls and teddy bears and neatly packed plastic bags.
But she lost a three-year eviction battle last month because her lifelong collection of memorabilia had been deemed a fire hazard.
However bailiffs today could not get in through the front door due to all her possessions behind it, with the only other option being the back door.
But this was barracked with a large plank of wood, and in any event the bailiffs at the scene allegedly said they were not allowed to enter via this route.
A delighted Mrs Appleton told MailOnline today: ‘I didn't think I would be sitting here now at this time. I'm going to be in my own home for Mother's Day.’
Back gate: May Appleton (pictured today) lost a three-year eviction battle because her memorabilia items had been deemed a fire hazard
No entry just yet: Mrs Appleton, who has been facing eviction from her home of 60 years, today earned a temporary stay of execution
Decisions: Bailiffs today could not get in through the front door (left) of the home due to all Mrs Appleton's possessions behind it
Last month it was revealed how Mrs Appleton had been left heartbroken after being branded a hoarder by housing association bosses.
She was facing her collection of dolls, autographs, toys, photos and memorabilia being put into storage.
And bailiffs were today due to take possession of the house she shares with her three sons Brian, 61, Mark, 51, and Paul, 49 - but left without do so.
And Brian Appleton told MailOnline this afternoon: ‘She’s absolutely pleased as punch. It’s absolutely fantastic and we can only thank the Mail.
‘You’ve been absolutely fantastic from day one when we told you about it. We are completely relieved. We can settle and have a nice weekend now.
‘I have been worried about my mum. None of us slept a wink last night, we've had nothing to eat, and the relief is now finally coming up.
‘My mum is over the moon - she literally broke her heart. She couldn't talk for breaking her heart. My mum can't believe it.’
Mr Appleton added that the police have advised the family to ‘start shifting a few things’, and to show that they are willing to do this.
Therefore he intends to get back in touch with the courts this afternoon to say they would like another hearing to ‘put our side to them’.
Mr Appleton added that they want to ‘say we are willing to move some of the stuff and hopefully we can keep the house’.
Arrival: Six people turned up at the house this morning, including a maintenance provider, two bailiffs and three women from the council
On sit: The bailiffs allegedly told the council workers that they could only go in through the front door of the property in Cheshire
Six people turned up at the house at about 10am today, apparently including a maintenance provider, two bailiffs and three women from the council.
And a witness who watched the events unfold at the scene told MailOnline: ‘Brian and May had barricaded themselves in the house.
‘Because of the amount she’s got in there you can't get in through the front door anyway and you can only go in the house via the back door.
‘They’d used a large plank of wood to prevent the back door being opened. The bailiffs kept their hoods up all the time.
‘They were constantly banging on the door from 10am onwards saying “it’s the bailiffs, can you open the door please, can we talk about this.”’
The bailiffs allegedly told the council workers they needed to gain entry through the front door because they were not allowed to enter round the back.
The witness continued: ‘The council workers were making lots of phone calls between themselves.
‘Then, just as the maintenance provider was about to get his power tool and force open the door, they just walked away.
‘The council worker said they'd decided to retreat for the day. It's heavy snow today up here. They've gone back to their council offices.’
He added: ‘On the front door, even if you got the front door off, you wouldn’t be able to get past all the stuff.
Collection of dolls: Mrs Appleton was left heartbroken after being branded a hoarder by housing association bosses in Cheshire
Concerns: Mrs Appleton was facing her collection of dolls, autographs, toys, photos and memorabilia being put into storage.
Family: Bailiffs were due to take possession of the house that she shares with her three sons Brian (above), 61, Mark, 51, and Paul, 49.
‘So I gather the reason why they left - I’m only assuming this – was the bailiff was saying to the council, “I can't gain entry by the back door”.
Mrs Appleton’s many items include valuable dolls, Star Wars and Action Man toys and autographs from Hollywood stars of the 1930s.
She also has a card sent to her parents by the Queen Mother to thank them for looking after evacuees during the Second World War.
Last November she said: 'What I've got in there is 61 years of memories. I've been happy here for 58 years - it's the last three that have been terrible.
‘I've had more than five letters a week for three years, I've been to court twice in Chester and I've no-one to turn to.'
She has been told that her collections are classed as hoarding and are a fire hazard.
Her son Brian said: 'We're not disputing that we've got a lot of stuff in the house but it's our possessions.
‘It's an archive, and it's all clean and tidy. It's not junk, everything's got a story.'
The family say they have never fallen behind on their rent and have been described as 'pillars of the community'.
Spokesmen for Cheshire West and Chester Council and Weaver Vale Housing Trust have not yet responded to MailOnline's request for comment.
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