Squatters lefts

A Serb man who lived in a tree in his garden for two years after squatters stole his home has finally come down.

A court has ruled Stevan Graovac can move back into his home which he fled in 1995 because of the war.

As he came down from his tree house for the last time, Mr Graovac said: "I'm happy it's all over. I thought I would have to live in a tree for the rest of my life. But I will keep the tree house as it is to show my children."

Stevan Graovac left his home in Smilcic, near the Adriatic port of Zadar, and moved to America but when he returned, a decade later, he found someone else living there.

A Croatian family fleeing fighting in Bosnia had moved into his deserted home, and refused to leave.

Officials agreed he was entitled to have his home back under Croatian law but until they could find another home for the current occupants, he would have to find somewhere else.

Mr Graovac, 59, then built a house in a tree in the back garden, sleeping on a straw mattress, and stayed there for two years living off benefits and charity donations while his case was sorted out.

The Croatian family have been moved into a new home of their own.