IT was the most unusual bonfire in Hampshire.

While families across the county marked Bonfire Night, Sharon May burned a mobile home on her alpaca farm near Winchester.

Sharon, of Ham Green, Sparsholt, had been ordered to remove the building by Winchester City Council by November 16 because it did not have planning permission.

After learning it would cost £2,000 to have it removed, she decided to set it ablaze.

She said: “I was left with no other choice as it would cost too much to remove each unit and I would have had to remove all my fencing too. I tried selling it but was told it was too old so burning it was the only viable option.

“It was very upsetting; I was burning my house and I was in tears. I don’t know what’s going to happen to me now. I’m staying with family in Winnall at the moment but I am speaking to the council about being moved into a flat.”

Hampshire fire crews were called to Monday night’s blaze by a neighbour.

Winchester fire station watch manager Chris Roper said: “We took action as the fire was way out of control and it was potentially threatening trees and there were horses nearby.”

Sharon plans to remove the wreckage as soon as possible, and could face more legal action from the city council.

A council spokesman told the Daily Echo: “We will check it out this week. It looks like the original breach has ceased, but we will investigate whether the demolition has created an untidy site which would be a planning breach.”

Sharon recently separated from her husband, Michael Lee, who was fined by magistrates in August for ignoring an enforcement notice after installing the home without permission. It was first ordered to be removed by February 2012.

Sharon also pleaded guilty to breaching the enforcement notice at Basingstoke Magistrates’ Court last month and was fined £600 and ordered to pay £400 costs.