AN 89-YEAR-OLD war veteran is set for another "David vs Goliath" battle to stop developers building flats behind his home.

Patrick McInally successfully fought off plans to build flats at the end of his garden two years ago.

But developers have now lodged another application, this time to build four flats between his house in Avenue Gardens and Lancaster Road in South Norwood.

Mr McInally served with the RAF in Normandy during the Second World War and was injured in an IRA bombing in the 1970s but said all he wants now is a peaceful life.

He added: "My pleasure is sitting in the garden.

"It would take them a few years to build and I would have cement mixers going all day long.

"It's like David and Goliath. I'm David and they are Goliath and it's a hell of a battle against them.

"I say is this what I bloody well fought for? It gives you food for thought."

Mr McInally, a widower, is worried about whether his privacy will be invaded as well because the proposed building would be at a higher level.

He is partially deaf after losing his hearing in an IRA bombing in Earls Court more than 30 years ago and, having spent the last 22 years fighting against a series of applications to build new homes, he has previously stated he's had "more trouble from this than I did from the Germans".

Mr McInally said: "I'm in the later years of my life, but even if I was younger there's no reason why they should be able to do this."

The last application was turned down by Croydon Council and then an appeal by the developer was turned down by the Planning Inspectorate.

Former South Norwood councillor Sue Bennett lent her support to the cause back then.

She said: "I'm very sad that an elderly gentleman with such a distinguished war record has got to deal with problems like this at an age when he should be able to sit back and relax."

Croydon Council is due to make a decision on the planning application by December 15.