FARMER George Copeland was finally evicted today from the North Yorkshire farm where he had lived all his life.

He claimed he would have nowhere to go after housing association efforts to find him alternative accommodation proved unsuccessful.

"I might end up sleeping under a hedge," Mr Copeland, 53, told the Evening Press last night.

When our reporter arrived today at his home, Walnut Tree Farm at Thorpe Bassett, Rillington, near Malton, he had left - hours before the 12.30pm deadline.

Bailiffs arrived ten minutes before the deadline to find him gone.

Ryedale Housing Association said it was intending to find accommodation for Mr Copeland, but it might be a few days before a property became available.

Mr Copeland went to York County Court again yesterday to get today's eviction deferred, but failed.

The tenant farmer has been facing eviction since he was twice late paying the rent in 2000 to his landlord, the Cholmley estate, after he had fallen into financial difficulties. He won a reprieve at York County Court in January this year, giving him the opportunity to challenge a judgement made by the court last year.That challenge failed and the eviction date was then set for today.

A solicitor for the Cholmley estate said she understood that Mr Copeland's failed application to the court this week had been for permission to go to the European Court of Human Rights.She also said she understood that housing officials had been attempting to contact his relatives.

Updated: 14:59 Thursday, March 27, 2003