A British National Party district councillor has dismissed allegations that he is flouting planning regulations on the High Beech caravan site he manages as "an unsubstantiated attack for political reasons".

Terry Farr, who represents the Loughton Alderton ward, runs the camp site behind The Elms mobile home park, Lippitts Hill, where he lives.

The site is licensed by the council for use by caravans between March 1 and October 31.

But planning officers have received complaints that it is being used all year round, infringing on greenbelt policy and depriving the council of thousands of pounds of revenue from residents who fail to pay Council Tax.

Mr Farr said: "It's nonsense. There's no-one staying there. The first I heard of this was when we got back from holiday in Egypt. There was a message from someone at some Marxist magazine who said they had been to the site and seen lights on in the caravans.

"We leave the lights on. We're in the middle of the forest with a path that runs down the side. There are three caravans and a mobile home there at the moment for winter storage. Last year we had a caravan stolen and one broken into, so we leave the lights on. It's quite simple really.

"I have to assume, especially given who the chap was working for, that it's a bit of mischief making because of the party I represent."

A council spokesman said: "We received a complaint just before Christmas suggesting that the seasonally restricted part of the site was being used and this is due to be investigated.

"However we have received similar complaints in the past. Just prior to an anonymous complaint received in 2002 the site was investigated in 2000 and 2001 over the same allegation.

No evidence could be found to support the claims. In view of this most recent approach, we will obviously look into the matter again."

A resident, who admitted raising the issue with district council officials in the past, said: "The site does look locked up, but if you come at night you will see there are people living there.

"As a councillor Mr Farr should be whiter than white, but he seems to be getting away with it, at the expense of his own authority."

Another resident said: "I don't know about the caravans but there's definitely someone in the mobile home. I can't remember his name, but I often say hello."

But site owner Keith Zabell said he trusted Mr Farr completely. He said: "As far as I'm concerned I'm sure there's no one living there.

"There are builders in the mobile home at the moment renovating it.

"But I'm sure there's no-one staying on the site. I can only imagine accusations to the contrary are political."