It took him two years to build and because he hadn’t been given planning permission by the local council, he kept it hidden.

Mr Fidler hoped to use a loophole in the law that says people can avoid planning rules if the house was built more than four years ago. So the castle was kept hidden from 2002
to 2006.

The High Court in London has now ruled the building must be knocked down as it doesn’t have the permission.

The Judge said: “Mr Fidler made it quite clear that the construction of his house was undertaken in a clandestine fashion, using a shield of straw bales around it and tarpaulins or plastic sheeting over the top in order to hide its presence during construction.”

Mr Fidler’s lawyer says he is thinking about appealing against the decision.