A banner campaign has been mounted by a pensioner who believes he has been wronged by the law.

Harold Jones, 77, has been prosecuted for illegally felling a tree on a plot of land off Leeds Road, Thackley, and refused planning permission to build three houses there.

His banners claim that he has not been fairly treated by the judicial system and Bradford Council and accuses some named councillors of being unwilling to help.

Some of the banners had been removed yesterday, but a static caravan on the site still bore the message ‘The Alamo under siege’. But Councillor Jeanette Sunderland, one of those named by Mr Jones, accused him of fighting a hopeless case.

The Council’s Liberal Democrat group leader said: “He is costing the taxpayer such a lot of money, he has sent out abusive leaflets about me, he’s been at this for years.

“He’s got a piece of land and he intends to build on it regardless of any consideration for planning rules, neighbours, law, and continues to break the law.”

Mr Jones, of Willow Crescent, Wrose, Shipley, bought the plot six years ago and has begun to build foundations on the site, despite not having permission to develop it. Last year he was convicted at Bradford Crown Court of chopping down an ash tree in defiance of a Tree Preservation Order.

He said he is appealing against that conviction and has started an on-line petition. He said: “I have spent so much on the legal proceedings I have not got enough to build.”

He said: “Councillors have known about the situation from the very beginning, for almost six years, I have spoken to them personally, I have had meetings with them.

“They have known about the situation, I have kept them in touch with letters over the years and they have allowed it to go on.”

A Bradford Council spokesman said: “The Council has been investigating various inquiries from members of the public in relation to alleged breaches of Town and Country Planning Legislation at the site. In light of ongoing proceedings, the Council is unable to comment further.”