A BITTER family feud which saw a war hero thrown out of his home was finally settled amicably out of court yesterday.

Battle of Britain ace, Squadron Leader George Bennions, agreed to settle his case against son-in-law Frank Slade and pay £3,000 towards his legal costs.

The 89-year-old launched his bid for damages after claiming he was "unlawfully excluded" from the annexe he had shared with his late wife, Avis, in Catterick Village, North Yorkshire.

But during the case, which has cost between £30,000 and £40,000 to bring to court, the squadron leader was accused of being aggressive, short tempered and prone to violence on occasions.

The Teesside hearing was told that Mr Bennions had lived in the "granny" annexe at the home of daughter, Connie, and son-in-law, Mr Slade, at The Birches, in Swale Lane, for 16 years.

After Mrs Bennions died two years ago, Mr Slade initially banned his wife from looking after her father because he did not want her "waiting on him hand and foot" like she had for her mother. But the court heard that Mrs Slade gradually went on to do his cooking, washing, ironing and bits of cleaning - a "24- hour job" - and was eventually driven to the verge of a nervous breakdown.

Mr Bennions detested his son-in-law and had been cautioned by the police after brandishing a gardening knife in front of a golf club colleague and announcing: "I've killed bigger and better people than Frank Slade".

The court also heard that, in February 2000, Mr Bennions pinned his daughter against a wall during a dispute, held his fist up to her and said: "Remember, I've killed better people than you."

When Mr and Mrs Slade wanted to move to a nearby house they were having built they offered to have a bedsit created for him, but he did not want to leave.

Mr Bennions was sent a solicitor's letter warning him to leave the annexe in 28 days, but returned from a walk on August 14 last year to find the gates to the bungalow locked.

His other daughter, Georgina O'Reilly, told the hearing that her father had suffered brain damage after being hit by irremovable shrapnel during the war and it had made him short tempered.

He was seriously wounded during the Battle of Britain in 1940 when a shell exploded in the cockpit of his Spitfire.

He lost an eye and was operated on by eminent surgeon Sir Archibald McIndoe, earning him a place as one of McIndoe's Guinea Pig Club members.

Ms O'Reilly said her father felt he was being put under pressure to move and was aggressive "only when pushed."

"My father is not a monster. I don't feel he would attack anyone unless attacked," she said. Yesterday, Mr Bennions admitted in court: "I'm not exactly easy to deal with. I never have been."

His third daughter, Shirley Wilson, with whom he now lives, said after the hearing he had brought the action because he was angry at being evicted from his home, and had settled the case because he wanted to spare daughter Connie, whom he loved, taking the stand.

Asked if it meant the family would heal their rift, she replied: "No."

Mr Slade said: "I'm happy with the result."