A Yatton landowner has been sent to prison after a row with North Somerset Council over where he leaves his caravan.

George Montgomery has been involved in an almost four-year long battle with the council over the way he uses agricultural land he owns in Stowey Road.

An enforcement notice was served upon him in January 2013 telling him to remove the caravan and hardstanding it was sat on, but he refused to.

He was taken to court in May this year by North Somerset and handed a 28-day sentence, suspended for one year.

Montgomery then removed the caravan but did not comply with the rest of the order and last month the council found he had placed another residential caravan on the hardstanding. That action led to him appearing at court once more.

The 52-year-old had to appear before Bristol Magistrates Court and on December 8, where his previous prison sentence was activated.

He was also ordered to pay costs of £961.

North Somerset Council’s deputy leader, Elfan Ap Rees, said: “This clearly shows that people cannot go around flouting planning regulations and expect to get away with it.

“We will always investigate alleged breaches of planning control and take the necessary action.”