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A mechanic whose van was crushed by a tree almost a year ago has insisted the “eyesore” will stay on his driveway until his housing association pays for its removal.

Tony Tebboth’s van was flattened by a 60ft sycamore tree when it came down in the St Jude storm on October 27.

The Ford Transit was written off but the wreckage is still outside the 64-year-old’s house in Keswick Road in East Putney, where homes can fetch more than £1 million. Mr Tebboth is in a dispute with his housing association over whose insurers should pay to replace it and is threatening to sue.

He said: “People have been surprised it’s still there. Some people may think it’s an eyesore... they can’t believe how it is being handled. It’s outrageous. I just wanted to make an insurance claim but now I have been left with no choice but to take legal action.”

Mr Tebboth claims Paragon Community Housing Group should pay for the van to be removed because of its “failure” to cut down the weakened tree, which he had first warned staff was rotting in 2007. He filed a claim to Paragon’s insurers, Zurich Insurance, but said his claim was refused because the tree was scheduled to be cut down, making Paragon not liable.

Mr Tebboth, who lives with his wife Gillian and disabled son, is threatening to sue Paragon for negligence and said he wants the van to stand as a reminder to the housing association and its insurers that his claim is not going away.

A spokeswoman for Zurich Insurance said: “We advised that the claim would be rejected. But the case is still open and we are still gathering information from all parties concerned before a final decision is made.”