Alfred and Christine McMullen's back garden was turned into a building site for a year while the link from Vicarage Road to the new Stanley Bank Way was constructed.

Now, more than two-and-a-half years after the £8.4m project was finished, they have finally received a five-figure compensation sum.

The 77-year-old grandfather said: "We're relieved this saga has finally come to an end. We knew when we bought this property that the plans for the by-pass were already in place and did not stand in their way once the money was secured for the project.

"But it has been a bit of a struggle and has taken a long time. It was frustrating that we seemed to have to wait longer for our compensation because we didn't kick up a fuss."

The Blackbrook by-pass, a 1.3km carriageway originally planned back in the 1960s, was finally opened by then Transport Minister Dr Stephen Ladyman in February 2007.

But to complete the multi-million pound project, builders had to chop down trees in the McMullens' back garden and tarmac almost an acre of their land.

Earlier this year Mr McMullen, a keen amateur artist, had become so disillusioned with the compensation stalemate that he painted a series of eye-catching banners highlighting the issue on his fence on the Vicarage Road extension.

Mr McMullen, from Liverpool Road, added: "The Blackbrook diversion only seriously damaged one domestic property and it was ours.
"Before, we had a bungalow and two acres of land. Now we have a bungalow, a busy road and what's left of our land.

"The compensation takes into account the devaluation of our property, the disturbance caused and the actual purchase of the land.

"We've just got to accept it now and move on with our lives."