DURHAM County Council could step in to end the misery of residents whose lives have been blighted by a former family farm.

The authority is considering paying for a clean-up of West Musgrave Farm, in St Helen Auckland, and then attempting to reclaim the costs.

Another mooted option would see its owners forced to foot the bill before any work takes place.

Stephen Reed, a planning development manager at Durham County Council, said: “We are still considering all options for the land at West Musgrave Farm.

“We intend to notify residents to inform them there is a possibility work will be carried out at some point and we will keep them fully informed.”

A lengthy legal wrangle over the 65 acre farm saw former ‘tenant’ Paul Shepherd branded a trespasser by a county court judge and ordered to leave. It is understood he continues to keep animals on the site.

Vacant possession of the farm was then granted on a 50-50 basis to Shepherd’s brother Christopher and their sister Joanne Long.

However attempts to sell the land have been complicated by Christopher’s bankruptcy, meaning at present he no longer owns the title to it. He is disputing a second bankruptcy he was made subject to in December last year.

Local estate agent William Rea says he has a client interested in the land, but so far that interest has come to nothing.

Northern Ireland-based Tindale Developments had also expressed an interest in building social housing on the site, but balked at the asking price.

Records now show that Tindale Developments Limited is subject to a proposal to strike it off the company register. It had just £1 in the bank as at August last year.

A representative of the company said: “The limited company was a vehicle set up for the purposes of the planned development, but it is being dissolved due to the fact that we are no longer interested in West Musgrave Farm.”

Local resident Keith Smith, 66, who has lived in the area for 50 years, said: “They [Tindale] said they were going to put 600 houses on there and all sorts, but we never believed it from day one.

“We just want to know what is happening with the place and see an end to the pussyfooting about.

“We are fed up of living next to what is just a tip.

“There has been a fire there burning for a month, the place stinks and we have had rats the size of cats in our garden.”