Pub landlord under investigation over claims he allowed a customer to use his beer garden as an airstrip

A pub landlord is being investigated by national park chiefs over claims one of his regulars is using his beer garden as a makeshift airstrip.

Steve Cotten, who runs The Poltimore Arms at South Molton in Devon, has admitted one of his customers, known locally as "Dangerous Dave", occasionally takes drinkers for a "short spin" on his two-seater aircraft next to the pub when flying conditions are ideal.

Flights are said to take place every "couple of months" with the inside of the pub transformed into a "departure lounge" and signs put up renaming the area as Yarde Down International.

One of the first passengers to take flight was 90-year-old Bill Maddox who was treated to aerial views of Brayford, a village less than eight miles away.

But after a flight last month, planning bosses at the Exmoor National Park Authority wrote to Mr Cotten requesting a site visit. The landlord was warned he didn't have "change of use" planning permission to allow take-offs and landings outside the pub.

The investigation is understood to have been sparked by a post on Facebook, which read: "The Poltimore Arms at South Molton has renamed itself 'Yarde Down International' for the summer.

"The beer garden has been cleared and equipped with wind socks to monitor the weather and proper radio communications equipment."

Mr Cotten, who has previously hit the headlines for forcing customers to serve their own pints, said the reaction from officials had been "ridiculous".

He said: "They actually think we are running an airport from our beer garden. In the videos you can see Dave taking off from the field and it is not the beer garden. They actually think we have put a runway over the beer garden.

"Dangerous Dave just takes people up but won't go unless the weather is perfect. He only charges for petrol. It really is all just a bit of fun and a laugh.

"And now you have got these idiots sending a letter. It just shows how stupid the planning authority really is. "It is Dave's own plane and it is a microlight. But to sit in the cockpit is awesome. "It is ad-hoc when we do it, but is generally every couple of months. He won't do it unless it is perfect weather conditions. He takes people up for ten minutes or half an hour.

The letter, which was shared by Mr Cotten on Facebook, was addressed from Trevor Short, planning investigations officer for Exmoor National Park Authority.

It read: "The National Park Authority have received information regarding a planning matter at the Poltimore Arms. As planning authority for the Exmoor area,we have a duty to look into such matters to understand whether there is a breach, and if so, whether any action is necessary.

"I would appreciate your views on this matter and what your intentions are and to arrange a suitable time to visit and assess the situation."

The Telegraph has contacted Exmoor National Park Authority for further comment.