Jim Speechley is on trial at Sheffield Crown Court, where he denies a charge of misconduct in public office.

He was asked on Thursday if he had misled a reporter who interviewed him about the land near the proposed Crowland bypass.

It is alleged Mr Speechley tried to influence the route of the road for his own profit.

'Done deal'

Mr Speechley, 67, from Crowland, faced his third day in the witness box.

It was claimed in court that after he had indicated his preference for the road on one map, he went on to mark a second map as though the route was a done deal.

He was also asked whether, when later interviewed by a BBC reporter, he had been deliberately misleading in his answers about land he owned.

Mr Speechley rejected both these suggestions.