MADCAP Jake Mangel-Wurzel is facing a deadly serious battle.
The eccentric responsible for a strange lifestyle at his Lindley Moor home now faces a demand to clean up the land around his home.
Jake, 66, has amassed a strange collection of vehicles, building materials and other objects over the past 28 years and stored them at his empire, Peat Ponds cottage.
The cottage itself is full to bursting with his belongings and over the years the collection has spread to the field adjoining his house.
But now Kirklees Council has received complaints that the site looks an eyesore - and officials are taking action.
They had a meeting with Jake yesterday and hope to negotiate a clean-up of much of the site.
But Jake is determined to continue living and working in his own way.
He hopes he can negotiate a deal with the council - but has pledged to fight on.
He said: "I know some of this would be considered rubbish by many people, but to me it is my life and my work.
"I still have plenty of work I want to do and I need the space and the materials I have stored around the house.
"I built the beacon for Castle Hill and the folly at Lindley Moor in my outdoor workshop and I want to continue to do things like that.
"I started my career as Jake 28 years ago and I plan to stay here and die here. I know the land is not mine but I have used it for storage for 28 years and no-one has complained about it up to now.
"The house that is now my home used to have an extra 9ft of land at the side and I hope I can negotiate on that."
A Kirklees spokesman confirmed that officials had received complaints about the site, which borders council playing fields.
He said a cordial meeting had taken place and efforts were under way to persuade Jake to clear up some of the items.
