A NORTH Yorkshire landlord is to be evicted after losing a ten-year battle with the pub's owners.

Terry Baines, of The Bay Horse, in Barlby, near Selby, said today he was "gutted" by yesterday's decision in London's Appeal Court to grant Inntrepreneur a possession order.

Mr Baines, 61, and his wife, Maureen, 62, accompanied by a group of angry villagers, travelled to London yesterday to hear the two judges rule in favour of the company.

An emotional Mr Baines said today: "I feel hurt and angry that after fighting this for ten years, it ends like this. We're out on the streets - it's as simple as that.

"Our life savings of £38,000 have gone on legal costs and I've got no choice now but to declare myself bankrupt." He added: "I'm 61 and back in the poor house with no way of earning a living. All we've got to live in is a caravan.

Inntrepreneur spokesman Colin Redford confirmed today that Mr and Mrs Baines would be given at least a month before they enforced the possession order.

He said they had no intention of closing The Bay Horse, which is the company's only pub in the Selby area.

Updated: 11:31 Wednesday, August 15, 2001