A disabled woman who says her home was ruined when ivy started growing through her window has lost her claim for compensation.

Lesley Knox, of Brunswick Square, Hove, took legal action against freeholder Don McMurray at Brighton County Court to claim almost £800 compensation for the cost of repairs and redecoration.

Ms Knox - whose stepfather is Stanley Pearson, the former England and Manchester United football player - said the freeholder had failed to maintain the large window of her first-floor studio flat, and the wooden frame had become warped and rotten.

The ivy, which was growing up the rear of the Grade I listed property, began to trail through the top window, which no longer closed. She said this caused rainwater to pour in, as well as creating a problem with insects and slugs.

Ms Knox, 49, claimed she made several written complaints to the freeholder and managing agents but they failed to take action so she paid for the work out of her disability benefit.

Mr McMurray denied receiving her letters and told the court the first time he was aware the ivy had caused problems was after Ms Knox carried out the repairs in May this year.

Judge John Merrick dismissed her claim. He told Ms Knox he sympathised but she had not produced copies of her complaints and without them her case failed.

He said: "It is no good just watching ivy growing through the window for a number of years. One would have expected somebody to do something about it."

Mr McMurray, who also lives in the property, disputed whether all the damage could have been caused by the ivy.

He said: "There is no way of verifying any damage because the work was done before informing myself or the managing agents. If one is not informed it is impossible to do anything about it."