AN OLD caravan and fencing is "making a mockery" of Maryport's conservation area.

That is according toe the town council's planning chairman Angela Kendall.

The caravan has been parked on land adjacent to he former Empire Theatre building in John Street, which is in the heart of the town's conservation zone.

The caravan and and fence are an eyesore, councillors believe.

Allerdale planning officer Simon Sharp, however has told the town council that it was not a problem because it could not be seen from the road - which councillors from the area denied.

Town clerk Paul Bramley asked each councillor to view the site and given an opinion as soon as possible.

"Since Mr Sharp has said he does not consider it to be an eyesore, all our councillors should have a look and form their own opinion," he said.

The caravan has been there for nearly two years already and Mayor, Peter Kendall, said if something was not done soon, it was likely that whoever owned the caravan would b able to claim squatter's rights.