Alison Mooney, who has lived in the house in Calverley Bridge, for 30 years, had been allowed to drive across the car park behind closed restaurant Olivers Paris and park right outside her home because her only other access was via a narrow footpath.

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But after the restaurant closed in October 2007, 13 travellers' caravans moved on to the car park.

And when they moved off they left a trail of devastation. Land owners Enterprise Inns of Solihull installed a padlocked gate at the entrance to stop the trespassers.

But the gate has also left the widow out in the cold.

The blocked entrance means that when she returns from the supermarket with all her bags, the closest taxisn and friends can drop her off is around the length of a football pitch from her home.

The 61-year-old, who uses a walking stick, said: "The taxi driver drops me off with my shopping and I've got to walk over the car park with all my bags.

"I haven't got a car anymore. If I had I couldn't get in anyway."

She added: "If I want an ambulance or the fire brigade how do I go on? It's making me ill."

"If I had a wheelchair I would be housebound."

Mrs Mooney, whose husband died 12 years ago, doesn't want the gate removed as she said it was a nightmare having travellers camping on her doorstep.

She said she would be happy with a key to the padlock so that vehicles such as taxis could drop her close to her house. Although she doesn't have a legal right of way across the land, she has had an agreement with the various landowners over the years which meant she – or the car she was in – could drive across the plot to get near her home.

A spokeswoman for Enterprise Inns said: "We are in ongoing discussions with Mrs Mooney regarding these gates, they were installed at her request because of issues with the car park and fly tipping and travellers.

She added: "She felt, and we felt, that to avoid any further trespass the gates are definitely going to have to remain in place for the time being."

Asked whether Mrs Mooney could be issued with a key she said: "That's something she needs to discuss with the representatives that are trying to get a suitable solution."