A Romany gipsy who spent his childhood living in waste ground, lay-bys and car parks, has told a planning inquiry he wants his children to have a better life.

Married father-of-two Gary Smith, 33, said he and other travelling families moved on to land near Bicester two years ago, because there was nowhere else for them to go.

The three-day inquiry, which began in Aylesbury on Tuesday, is looking at Aylesbury Vale District Council's decision to refuse planning permission for 20 mobile homes and 20 touring caravans at Oaksview Park, near Arncott.

Labourer Mr Smith said he spent his childhood travelling the country in a caravan, parking at the roadside until being moved on by the authorities.

Before moving to the Oaksview site, he spent five years travelling around the Oxford area.

The family also spent 11 months at Bicester Trailer Park, Wendlebury, but Mr Smith said they left because he did not think the facilities were suitable for children.

He said the family had to register at different doctors' surgeries every couple of weeks while travelling, to ensure his daughter got medication for her asthma.

He told the inquiry he wanted to send his children to primary school for a proper education and added: "Everyone wants to provide for their children. I don't want them to go through what I have gone through.

"We went to the council and we were told there was a four to five-year waiting list for sites. We had to take it into our own hands."

Mr Smith said his family was now registered with Langford Medical Practice, in Bicester, and his daughter Crystal, four, attended Toad Hall Nursery, in Buckingham Road.

Thomas Tipthorpe, 38, also lives on the site with his wife Julie, 29, and their children Chantal, 10, and Tom, seven, who attend Chesterton Primary School. His parents, who both require regular medical treatment, live with them.

He said: "Both children have special educational needs and are receiving extra help and support in school.

"If we don't have a settled place to live during school time, the children wouldn't be able to receive the education that they're entitled to, or the help and support that they need.

"I didn't think my parents could cope living illegally on the roadside, being forced to move on every few days."

He added many of the families living at the site were involved in the local community, playing in the village football and pool teams.

But Douglas Edwards, the council's barrister, told the inspector: "The appellants all occupied the site without first discussing the matter in any way with the local planning authority.

"There's little evidence thus far presented to support any proposition that these appellants need to be located on this site."

In evidence, council planning officer Brian Hall added there were 55 pitches for the use of gipsy families at Bicester Trailer Park.

Referring to the Oaksview site, he said: "Because of the turnover of families, the location of their children's schools and medical facilities, there is no indication that the families are integrating into the community."

A decision is due within the next few weeks.