A Poole councillor who spends up to three months every winter abroad has robustly defended his actions.

Cllr Roger Gregory, who represents Hamworthy East for the Conservatives, has been holidaying in South Africa ever since being elected in 2003.

He denies neglecting the 6,749 residents in his ward, saying he keeps fully in touch through email, telephone calls to the Civic Centre, fax and reads agendas on the council website.

"This has happened every year for the last five years and nobody has complained," he said. "Everybody has had the service they required."

He said 85 per cent of enquiries came via email and during his last trip he dealt with 25-30 emails a day. He and fellow councillor Mike White work as a team and covered for each other, he said.

"I have used subs for one or two meetings and I briefed them if it was something I felt strongly about," he said.

Chairman of the environment overview group, he claimed his allowance of £11,237 for the last financial year and said: "If I'm doing one-and-a-half to two hours on email each day, it's quite justifiable."

Cllr Gregory is not breaking the rules, to remain on the council a member has to attend one meeting in six months.

However former councillor Fred Winwood, vice-chairman of Hamside Residents Association, who wanted his councillor's assistance in referring a huge hike in beach huts to the ombudsman, was unimpressed.

"He's abroad virtually one year out of every four," he said. "We only get 75 per cent of a councillor in a four-year period."

And Liberal Democrat, Cllr Brian Clements said: "We are getting used to Conservative councillors popping over from Bournemouth for a brief visit to Poole' and we all need an occasional holiday but, if true, a break of that length year after year is just not acceptable."

But support came from Ann Smeaton of Hamside Residents Association. "He did red card several planning things when he was away. I was quite impressed that he had been keeping up with things," she said.