A Liverpool footballer and his brother are caught in a legal wrangle with a Wimbledon pensioner who wants to stop them building in his garden.

Champions League winner Steve Finnan, 31, is director of Finnans Developments, along with his brother Sean.

Retired lecturer David Hill, 69, and his son Jeremy took the company to court last week in a bid to halt plans to build a dwelling in the garden of Mr Hill's Thornton Hill home, which the Finnans have owned the freehold of since 2004.

The dispute involved the terms of Mr Hill's lease of his flat, which is one of three homes in the main building.

At Kingston County Court, Joanne Wicks, counsel for Mr Hill, said his rights "involve the ordinary use of the garden for relaxation, taking of fresh air, sunbathing, picnicking, playing with children and enjoying a glass of wine on the patio.

"It's clear in this case that the lease grants them the right to use the garden," she added.

According to Mr Hill, who used to lecture in theology at the University of Roehampton, the large garden was part of what attracted him to the property 10 years ago. He said he could imagine his grandchildren playing there in the future.

He claimed an extra dwelling would curb his enjoyment of the garden.

But the Finnans maintained that their plans would not substantially interfere with Mr Hill's rights, and that most of the garden would still be available for Mr Hill to use.

The judge is currently reviewing the case.