POLICE are continuing to investigate allegations a councillor incited racial hatred with comments he made about an illegal travellers site in Corringham.

Mark Coxshall, a Conservative ward councillor, caused a stir when he said a site in Southend Road could “become a cross between my big fat gipsy cesspit and Shameless”.

Police have spoken to Cllr Coxshall about the comments, which were made in a press release, after plans to make the site permanent were kicked out by Thurrock Council’s planning committee last month.

A file has been prepared on the incident, which the Crown Prosecution Service are now looking at.

Thurrock Chief Insp Ben Hodder said: “We are taking this seriously.

“We have compiled all the evidence and the CPS will now look at case law to determine whether or not a crime has been committed.”

The councillor refutes claims his comments were racist and said the travellers had acted illegally.