Queen of recycling Olive Taylor is facing eviction for filling her garden with rubbish.

Olive, 78, is one of Brighton's best-known characters, having raised tens of thousands of pounds for charity by collecting discarded tin cans, taking them to a scrap dealer and exchanging them for cash.

However, Brighton and Hove City Council has launched legal proceedings against the pensioner, giving her under a month to tidy the rubbish by her pathway, front door and garden, or risk losing her home of almost 70 years.

Officers said the mounting pile of plastic bags, glass and ceramic pots, large pieces of wood, discarded household goods and garden waste had become too much of a problem to ignore.

They said they had to take action after receiving complaints.

Olive has spent years pushing a pushchair through the streets, collecting litter such as drinks cans, foil and other metal junk which can be sold to a scrap dealer.

She once collected enough foil to buy four guide dogs for the blind.

She is regularly seen walking the streets pushing a pramful of recyclable rubbish - for which she gets 50p per kilo.

Two years ago, she presented the PDSA Pet Aid Hospital in Brighton with £30,000 she raised through picking up rubbish.

But the council has become increasingly concerned about the state of her garden in Evelyn Terrace, Brighton, and has repeatedly asked her to tidy up.

Now officers have sent her a notice of possession, giving her until June 30 to remove the mess. If she does not tidy up, the council will take her to court and begin eviction proceedings.

The council said the rubbish was unsightly, a health and safety hazard and caused a nuisance to neighbours.

It said she was in breach of her tenancy agreement which states her home must be kept clean, tidy and in good repair. It said she has refused to allow council officers to carry out an inspection.

Olive's closest neighbours, however, say they have not complained and do not want to see the former civil servant thrown out.

Nextdoor neighbour Hugh Carvill, whose home overlooks Olive's garden, said: "I don't know anyone that complains about it.

"It doesn't bother me in the slightest. She is out there at eight every morning sorting her stuff. But it doesn't smell or anything like that.

"I don't know anyone who would say a bad word about Olive."

Olive said: "They have been trying to evict me for years but when it comes down to it, I have always paid my rent on time.

"They're trying to force me out but if the neighbours are not concerned about it, why are they doing this to me?"

A council spokeswoman said: "We're not trying to evict her. We would like her to stay. We've issued proceedings to get rid of the rubbish and gain access but we want to work with her and are doing all we can to solve this.

"Everyone is entitled to recycle but this has gone beyond that. We've had several complaints."