A DISPUTE between a local mayor and his neighbour over a clapped-out car in a front yard has led to accusations of abuse of power.

Casey Mayor Sam Aziz and neighbour Jason Wilde have been battling over the carpenter's unregistered Morris Minor.

Police and council officers have been called in and now the mayor has initiated a move to ban residents keeping unregistered cars on their front lawn.

Residents with blocks of land less than 1000sq m would be allowed to have only one unregistered car on their properties instead of two.

And the bombs must not be on the front lawn or yard. Offenders would face $2000 fines.

Mr Wilde said he was stunned his Berwick neighbour would punish all car enthusiasts in the area over a personal dispute.

"He is abusing his power just because he has had a blue with me," he said.

"Why is the council worrying about cars when there are problems with crime rates?"

But Cr Aziz denied he was abusing his power, saying cars out the front of properties were a problem across Casey.

He accused Mr Wilde of racism.

"There is an element of racism here. I was born in Egypt and I am a Coptic Christian but I don't think he understands that," he said.

Mr Wilde denied the accusations of racism, saying he said hello and waved to Cr Aziz before the car war broke out.

"I'm not happy about it. I have never said anything racist in my entire life."

Originally published as Major Minor battle over clapped-out car