A FIVE-storey home left standing in the middle of a large motorway in China after its duck farmer owner Luo Baogen and his wife refused to move has finally been demolished.
The rest of the neighbourhood in the Xiayangzhang village had been flattened by authorities building a major highways link to a new railway station on the outskirts of the city of Wenling in Zhejiang province, accommodating China's super speed trains.
Motorists were reportedly driving around the property, which had become the latest symbol of resistance by Chinese homeowners against officials accused of offering unfair compensation. But Xiayangzhang village chief Chen Xuecai said the house was bulldozed after the couple agreed to accept compensation of 260,000 yuan, or £26,000. Mr Chen said Mr Luo voluntarily agreed to the deal. The pictures of the 'motorway home' in its unique location were posted across the internet.
Chen Xuecai claimed one reason for Mr Luo's decision was the media attention the landmark was getting. 'Luo Baogen received dozens of people from the media every day and his house stands in the centre of the road. So he decided to demolish the house,' he said.  China's official Xinhua news agency quoted Mr Luo as saying: 'It was never a final solution for us to live in a lone house in the middle of the road.     –Metro
'After the government's explanations, I finally decided to move.'
China's infrastructure and real estate growth has sparked controversy due to the number of relocations it is causing and the low compensation payments people are getting.