PYLONS campaigner Rosalind Craven's long-running battle against National Grid flared up again at her farm gate today.

The 62-year-old widow refused to unlock the gate at Home Farm, Huby, near Easingwold, to allow contractors to begin reinstatement work, following construction of three pylons.

She claimed the company had no right of entry without a warrant, siting the Rights of Entry (Gas and electricity Boards) Act of 1954.

But company representatives said they believed they had the right under compulsory way- leaves granted under the 1989 Electricity Act to exercise reasonable entry to carry out works.

A workman then used an electric saw to cut through the lock, with representatives saying they would provide compensation for any damage caused.

Today's confrontation comes a year to the day after Mrs Craven, flanked by supporters, fought to prevent National Grid gaining access to her land to begin preparatory work before construction.

The company wanted to build the pylons as part of a controversial scheme for a new power line from Picton, in Teesside, to Shipton-by-Beningbrough, near York.

National Grid revealed today that the power line was now carrying electricity to supply the national grid.

Mrs Craven had been warned by National Grid solicitors that she risked being in contempt of court if she obstructed access, in breach of an injunction granted at the High Court last December. Mrs Craven did not physically obstruct workmen today.

Mrs Craven, who lost an appeal against that injunction earlier this year, revealed that she had now applied for the appeal to be reopened.

She also revealed that National Grid had offered to compensate her to the tune of up to £60,000 for the reduction in value of her property because of the pylons, and had also offered to write off legal costs arising from last December's court hearing, which could come to £30,000 or more. But she said the offer had been on condition that she did not continue to pursue legal action, and she was not prepared to do this and she assumed the offer was now withdrawn.

A National Grid spokesman said the company very much regretted the situation it was involved in with Mrs Craven.

He said the work was aimed at restoring the land, removing an access roadway and replacing top soil and doing some work on land drainage.

He did not accept Mrs Craven's claims that now was the wrong time to be doing the work because of difficulties in reseeding the soil.

He said the company was in negotiations with Mrs Craven to reach an agreement on compensation, and part of those negotiations involved the legal costs dating back to last December.

Updated: 11:28 Monday, September 22, 2003