A BEAT bobby and a council official are accused of going into business with an ice cream seller to rake in thousands of pounds at a prime tourist spot.

Ice cream man, James McCall, aged 42, from Pointer Close, Thamesmead, has admitted his role in the three-year scam.

McCall and PC Christopher Keenan, from Sevenoaks, are alleged to have paid thousands of pounds in bribes and favours to bag the prime riverside patch near the Tate Modern gallery, which was on PC Keenan's beat.

Also in the dock are market inspector Anthony Whitaker, aged 61, from Moat Court, Sidcup, and street trading manager for Southwark Council, Leslie Armstrong, aged 45, from Essex, who are accused of taking the bribes.

Middlesex Guildhall Crown Court was told how McCall was able to set up business in his van with Keenan's help, after street trading was banned.

The jury heard how the prime patch around the Globe Theatre and Millennium Bridge could bring in £1,000 a day during the summer.

It was told Keenan had actually bought the £3,000 ice cream van and would tip off McCall if a council raid was due, to escape seizure of the van and equipment.

Council official Armstrong had proposed designating the area for legal trading, arguing it would raise revenue and help control unwanted pitches.

But even after his plan was abandoned because of fierce opposition from residents, he and Whittaker rubber-stamped a temporary licence for McCall in return for backhanders and created false correspondence to cover their tracks.

The scam was finally exposed when another street trader complained to Southwark Council.

Keenan and Armstrong each deny a charge of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice between May 2000 and November 2003 and all three deny one charge of conspiracy to corrupt an officer of a public body.

The trial continues.