DIRECT action has been authorised to tackle a "long outstanding" breach of planning control in Ringwood - more than two years since the initial complaint.

New Forest National Park Authority's planning development control committee granted the course of action to resolve the issue at land on Charles Lane, Crow.

The site is owned by Jenna and John Light, of Matchams Lane, Hurn. The pair have failed to respond to requests from the National Park Authority (NPA) to comply with planning control - including an enforcement notice.

Mrs Light admitted to failing to remove unauthorised caravans, equipment and a building from a field on Charles Lane, at Southampton Magistrates' Court, but the breach is still ongoing.

A spokesperson for the NPA said: "The committee authorised direct action on this site to address a long outstanding breach of planning control.

"In the absence of the landowner taking immediate steps to rectify the matter, all items on the site will be removed and a charge will be placed on the land to recover the costs of this action from the landowner.

"This will be an action of last resort but it is considered necessary to protect the landscape and scenic beauty of this part of the National Park."

Mr and Mrs Light bought the land in May 2015, with two dilapidated caravans and a small shed present, and the National Park Authority (NPA) received a complaint in June 2015 regarding the stationing of a third caravan as well as other items recently arriving at the site.

After requests to clear the site were ignored, the NPA served an enforcement notice on October 9 2015, directed

against securing the removal of the three caravans, recently erected shed, the laying of a hardstanding and other non-agricultural paraphernalia.

An appeal against the enforcement notice was dismissed in August 25 2016, with a scheduled compliance date of October 6 2016.

A site visit found the third caravan had been removed, but the other conditions of the notice had not been met leading the NPA to take legal action.

Mr and Mrs Light failed to appear at the initial court date, but on a subsequent date pleaded not guilty, with a trial set for May 30 2017.

At the trial, Mrs Light changed her plea to guilty and took responsibility for both parties. She was fined £230 and the NPA was awarded £2000 in costs.

Following the trial, the NPA have received little engagement from Mr and Mrs Light with no immediate offer to remove the items.

Two years on from the complaint being made to the NPA, direct action has been granted in accordance with Section 178(1) of the Town and Country Planning Act to dispose of all the items collected from the land affected.