THE challenges faced by a farming family in a remote corner of County Durham have been chronicled for a documentary.

Freelance director, producer and photographer Magali Pettier spent a year following the fortunes of tenant farmers Tom and Kay Hutchinson, who work Bail Hill, near Middleton-in-Teesdale.

While filming has been completed, Ms Pettier is attempting to raise enough money to cover the costs of post production.

Tom and Kay, both 39, with their children Jack, 11, Esme, ten and nine-year-old Hetty, moved to Bail Hill, part of the Raby Estate, from Northumberland in 2005.

They keep about 100 Swaledale ewes and 18 head of cattle on 98 acres.

Mrs Hutchinson said Ms Pettier initially approached Upper Teesdale Agricultural Support Services about the project.

“The original idea was to follow a number of families in England and France to compare and contrast farming methods,” she said.

“It was then recommended that she follow just one family and she chose us.

“She would visit for two to three days at a time, filming us around the farm over a year.”

This included lambing and calving, to visiting sales and shows.

With a working title of 'Addicted to Sheep', Ms Pettier spent time with Jack, Esme and Hetty, recording their views on what it is like to grow up on a hill farm.

She said the family had decided to get involved to give a positive view of living and working on a hill farm.

Ms Pettier said she hoped to have the film completed by September.

She said: “I was after a family in an environment that was really tough, but who clearly loved what they do.”

A trailer for the film can be seen online at www.magalipettier.com.