A landowner has been sent to prison after refusing to move a caravan and hardstanding when legally required to do so.

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

An enforcement notice was served upon him in January 2013 telling him to remove the caravan and hardstanding, 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 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.

The 52-year-old was therefore ordered to appear before Bristol Magistrates Court and on December 8 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 the authority would come down hard on people who believe they can disobey planning regulations and legal orders.

Cllr Ap Rees, who is also the executive member for strategic planning, 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.”