A farmer today threatened to create traffic chaos by driving a horse and cart round the York ring road after council workmen opened up a footpath across his land.

Staff from City of York Council's rights of way team started clearing the path at Wigginton, building two bridges across water courses and making gaps in hedges. They were backed by an enforcement notice and two police officers were on hand.

But furious landowner Robert Dent, of Flat Top Farm, Wigginton, said the half-mile of path across his land had ruined his livestock farm, which he said had been undisturbed since his family moved there in 1933.

He said the path had never been used in that time, and another already followed a similar route.

Mr Dent vowed that the matter would not end there, adding: "I'm going to have some of my old rights, if they are going to have theirs."

He planned to buy a horse and cart, and use it every morning to bring animal feed from Jubilee Mills at Murton along the ring road and the B1363. "When the traffic is queued back to Thirsk it won't be my problem," he added.

Mr Dent also criticised the police presence, claiming it was "ridiculous" and a waste of taxpayers' money.

The council said officers contacted landowners along the path, which runs from Windsor Drive, Wigginton, northwards past Flat Top Farm and out to the Helmsley Road, after requests from local walkers. But not all co-operated, leading to the enforcement action.

Its head of highway regulation and safety, Peter Evely, said it would use its full powers to secure rights of way, including getting tough with landowners who blocked public paths. "People don't seem to realise that blocking a public right of way is a criminal offence,." he said.

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