COUNCIL chiefs have ordered a controversial landowner to remove caravans from a Hampshire field.

East Hampshire District Council (EHDC) made the move after the occupant failed to submit a proper planning application for the site near Alresford.

Villagers fear the plot off Gascoigne Lane, Ropley, will become a traveller's site after two caravans and hard-standing were installed without authorisation before Christmas.

It prompted civic bosses to give the landowner until January 6 to submit plans. But after that deadline was missed the authority issued notices ordering that the caravans be removed by May 19.

A spokeswoman for EHDC said a planning application for three residential pitches had been received but that it was incomplete.

She added: "We anticipate receiving the required additional information in the near future and once received the application will be formally registered and publicised.

"We will carry out a range of consultations and would expect the application to be considered by the council's planning committee in due course.

She said that if the retrospective application were granted permission then the enforcement notices to remove the caravans would be dropped.