A Long-running dispute over a garden centre is to come to a head at a planning inquiry.

John Goodey of Oxford Road, Garsington, near Oxford, has been involved in a wrangle with South Oxfordshire District Council for almost 10 years over a garden centre he runs from his home.

According to council planning officers, the garden centre, Thamesdown Farm Nursery, is not authorised to do business as planning permission has been refused.

But Mr Goodey, a parish councillor, claims he has a historic right to run the centre since he has been selling plants from his house for the past 25 years.

He said: "It's ridiculous to stop me now."

Mr Goodey said more than 650 residents and customers had signed a petition in support of the centre.

Wilmine Winstone of Wheatley Road, Garsington, said: "I wouldn't like to see the garden centre shut.

"It has an excellent choice of plants and I use it quite often."

A three-day inquiry is due to start on Tuesday, March 23. Mr Goodey will appeal against the decision of the district council to enforce planning regulations.

Henry Venners, senior planning officer for South Oxfordshire District Council, said: "We don't accept the garden centre has been on the site for more than 10 years. Thamesdown Farm Nursery is not authorised as no new commercial uses are allowed in the Green Belt.

"There are also problems with on-street parking."

Mr Goodey also repairs cars and lorries but was given permission after the council agreed the business was more than 10 years old.