A COUPLE have to wait until next year to discover if they will have to demolish their house.

More than 150 people packed into a meeting of Tendring Council’s development control committee where the fate of Mayflower Cottage, Wix, was deferred.

Zippy Moonflower spent £100,000 renovating the cottage without planning permission.

Planning officers had advised Tendring Council to prosecute him for not complying with an enforcement notice to stop work.

Residents who had turned up to support Mr Moonflower and his partner Kerry Meadows were queuing down the stairs and in another room to hear the verdict.

They clapped and cheered when councillors postponed the decision on whether to prosecute until March 1.

It was revealed Mr Moonflower had lodged an application for more houses on the site.

Officers said if planning permission was given for the new homes, they would have to reconsider demolishing the existing cottage because it would seem unjustifiable to destroy one house if more are going to be built on the same site.

Sarah Candy (Lawford, Con) said: “There may be a third way, and I want to make sure it is considered.”

Mr Moonflower, speaking after the meeting, said he was overwhelmed with the amount of support he had received.

He said: “We are so grateful for all the letters of support and cards we have had from so many people.

“We are facing financial ruin to keep this fight going, and I just want to say a massive thank you to everyone for their help.”