A Canvey multimillionaire flew an aeroplane banner across the island branding local Labour election candidates "poofs, pervs and thieves", a court has heard.

Terry Holding, 71, also dropped thousands of leaflets from his plane accusing two male candidates of being a "pair of darlings" and "queens".

Holding, owner of HBC salvage company in Canvey, appeared at Basildon Crown Court yesterday and denies of three counts of breaching election law by incurring expenses without being an election agent and disparaging candidates at the Castle Point election of May 2003.

Gareth Patterson, prosecuting, said he engineered a leaflet drop from the air on April 26 with libellous claims against Charles Smith, former mayor, and George Wilson. The other Labour candidate named was Jenifer ok Howlett.

Mr Patterson said: "He (Holding) intended to promote the election for the Conservative candidates and intended to prejudice the chances of the Labour candidates."

Mr Smith claimed he saw hundreds of leaflets, entitled Election Alert, scattered along the roads and Mrs Howlett said she collected about 20 near her house.

The trial continues.