A MAN who stood to become Workington MP has been ordered to get rid of a "filthy" caravan.

Roy Ivinson, of Seaville in Silloth, was served with an abatement notice by Allerdale council under the Environmental Protection Act in February.

The authority said the static caravan posed an imminent risk of disease and illness and urged Mr Ivinson to stop using it as a residential facility.

A spokesman for Allerdale council said: "The residence has been inspected by two officers of Allerdale Borough Council environmental health department. Conditions within the caravan are deemed to be prejudicial to health and unfit for habitation.

"The caravan is lacking basic amenity and is in a filthy insanitary state. There is an imminent risk of disease and illness from continued habitation of the static caravan residence.

"The most imminent hazard included a defective wood burning stove with sooting throughout the premises and smoke evident in the room. Combustion of solid fuel produces smoke and fume containing multiple toxins known to have severe negative effects on health which can cause disease or death, the most serious being carbon monoxide."

But Mr Ivinson disputed the claims saying they were not true and took the council to court.

Mr Ivinson stood for the MP seat in Workington in 2015 and 2017 general elections and in the Copeland by-election in 2017.

Following a hearing at the magistrate's court in Workington on Tuesday (April 16), the case was dismissed and Mr Ivinson was left to foot the bill of £3,300 to pay for Allerdale council's costs.

The council spokesman said: "Mr Ivinson sought to appeal the abatement notice on the grounds that he denies all issues noted in the abatement notice. The court dismissed the appeal and awarded the council £3,300 costs."