South Lakeland District Council – on which Coun Airey is now a councillor – has told him he must vacate the caravan or face enforcement proceedings.

Coun Airey said his family had been caught out by current problems in the housing market.

His Kirkby Lonsdale home has not been sold, and the family has been living with relatives in Cumbria since his wife moved jobs and his son transferred schools.

However, Coun Airey was forced to live on site at his farm in Great Urswick while lambing took place.

Coun Airey, who is a former member of Lan-caster City Council's planning committee, said: "The caravan was put there for agricultural purposes. You have got to be on site while lambing and I needed somewhere to live. I am not full-time in the caravan, it's a place of work. I have worked with the local parish council and they have been happy with it and residents have been 100 per cent behind us."

Planning law states permission must be sought from the relevant district council for any new residential development, including placing a caravan in a garden for someone to live in. Planning approval must also be in place to use agricultural land for residential purposes.

An SLDC spokesman said: "Following investigations, a site visit and discussions with the caravan owner, we have concluded there has been a breach.

"A letter of apology had been received from the owner of the caravan. He also put forward a timetable for the caravan to be removed and the situation resolved."