THE son of a property developer has been charged by police in connection with a row outside a council planning meeting.

Simon Howell, 20, from Stockton, will appear before Northallerton Magistrates' Court tomorrow.

He has been charged with one count of criminal damage and a public order offence. The charges relate to incidents at the Civic Centre, in Northallerton, North Yorkshire,on Thursday.

Mr Howell's father, Peter, had just been refused retrospective planning permission for a house in Ingleby Arncliffe, near Northallerton, for a fifth time by Hambleton District Council when police were called.

One objector had two tyres on his van slashed and a parish council chairman was involved in an alleged altercation.

Peter Howell has been involved in a two-year dispute with the district council over the £350,000 house which was built without planning permission.