PLANS for a council mortgage scheme to help first time buyers have been challenged by Ukip.

The scheme to guarantee part of potential new homeowners’ mortgage was approved by the county council’s Conservative administration earlier this month.

But the decision has been called-in by Essex County Council’s Ukip group who say lending is not the authority's job - meaning the scheme will now face a scrutiny committee and possibly the full council.

Senior Tories have slammed the move as politically motivated.