The owners of a caravan park threatened with enforcement action have accused the Broads Authority of failing to support their successful tourism business.

The row centres on two static caravans at Broad Farm caravan park in Fleggburgh, near Great Yarmouth, which are lived in all the year round by owner Linda Shingles' son Matthew, his partner Angie and their three teenage children.

Mrs Shingles and her husband Archie insist the family's presence during their four-month close season is vital for security as the site has suffered from an ongoing problem of thefts from caravans and even had caravans towed away.

However, the Broads Authority refused planning permission for the caravans to be permanently occupied last August and is now recommending that an enforcement notice is issued ahead of possible prosecution.

A report to tomorrow's meeting of the authority's planning committee highlights the fact that the 26 acre site demands strong protection from the adverse effect of over development as it is on the shore of Filby Broad, an area vulnerable to disturbance and of great landscape and wildlife value.

The presence of the permanently occupied caravans was brought to the attention of the authority in 2008.

Mrs Shingles said the park was run as a family business with Matthew and his family all helping on the site.

She said: 'The caravans where they live are at the far end of the site which needs protection as a public footpath runs through there.

'Last year, Angie was walking her dogs and scared off two would-be thieves who ran off through the fields.'

At the same time as refusing permission for the two caravans to be permanently occupied, the authority also vetoed the Shingles' plans to add 10 static holiday caravans to their existing 25, correspondingly reducing the number of touring pitches.

Mrs Shingles said: 'Static caravans have become increasingly popular with holidaymakers and we are missing out on important potential trade - and the Broads Authority is supposed to be pushing tourism.'

She pointed out that a new housing estate had been allowed - only yards from their park - on the site of the old Bygone Village.