The owner of fields earmarked for 170 new homes today told a public inquiry he had never seen any recreational use of them by villagers.

Adrian Horner, who owns three of the four fields in Derry Hill, Menston , which are the subject of a Village Green status application, told the inquiry he would have prevented people from using the land for the likes of kite flying and sport if he had seen anyone on them during the past 20 years.

If the application for Village Green status is successful, it would probably stop the new houses being built.

The inquiry, at Kirklands Community Centre, is being led by an independent inspector David Manley QC.

Earlier this year, the permission was granted, subject to further agreements, for Barratt Homes to build the houses on the land, despite massive objections.

Asked by Frances Lawley, the barrister acting on behalf of applicant Dr Steve Ellams, why his evidence differed from the previous two days when more than a dozen villagers said they had used the fields for recreation, Mr Horner said he had not made anything up.

“I am not one to make and concoct lies.” he said.