A British couple, have had a court ruling instructing them to demolish their home in northern Cyprus overturned by the High Court. The ruling could now have dramatic consequences for the property market in Turkish occupied northern Cyprus.

The British pair had spent around £160,000 buying and constructing their property, however, a Greek Cypriot came forward, claiming that his family owned the land prior to the Turkish invasion in 1974. As a result, a court ruling in Nicosia ordered the Brits to demolish their home and compensate the Greek Cypriot man.

But presenting judge, Mr Justice Jack, found that the Nicosia court order was not enforceable in England due to the terms of Cyprus accession in to the EU in 2004, while Greek Cypriot law is unenforceable in the Turkish-occupied north.