THE farmer who had been facing eviction today from a Ryedale farm has won a last-minute reprieve.

Bailiffs had been due this lunchtime to evict George Copeland from Walnut Tree Farm, Thorpe Bassett, Rillington, near Malton.

The 53-year-old, who was born in the farmhouse and lived there all his life, had been devastated at the prospect of leaving. But yesterday a judge at York County Court, sitting with press and public excluded, delayed the eviction for a fortnight.

It is understood that permission was granted for Mr Copeland to apply to the Court of Appeal for permission to lodge an appeal out-of-time against a judgement last year.

Under that judgement, a possession order was granted against Mr Copeland after he was twice late paying the rent in 2000 in the wake of financial difficulties.

Mr Copeland and his solicitors declined to make any comment after the hearing.

Solicitors for the owners of the farm, which is part of the Cholmley estate, said they would wait to see what Mr Copeland's next actions were.

Updated: 11:28 Thursday, January 16, 2003