POLICE were present as council workers moved in to carry out a clean-up of a family farm which residents say is a blight on their lives.

Durham County Council has now taken action over West Musgrave Farm, in St Helen Auckland, after a number of enforcement notices failed to have the desired effect.

Yesterday (Wednesday, May 13) workers in boiler suits could be seen sifting through the rubble of the previously demolished farmhouse on the 65 acre site. A digger was also in use.

A lengthy county court case resulted in former ‘tenant’ Paul Shepherd being ordered to quit.

However, he continues to keep cattle there with the permission of his brother Christopher Shepherd, who was granted vacant possession of West Musgrave on a 50-50 basis along with his sister Joanne Long.

The Northern Echo understands police were present at the farm when the work began in order to prevent a possible breach of the peace and spoke to both Christopher and Paul Shepherd.

Officers are keeping a watching brief over the site, but have not been required to do anything more.

Local residents have also been sent letters informing them of the council’s intentions.

In a statement Andrew Inch, team leader, planning development at Durham County Council, said: “Work began earlier this month to clear the various waste materials which have been deposited on the land as well as the rubble associated with the now demolished house.

“We wrote to residents in the surrounding area at the end of April to advise of the work that would be taking place and we are hopeful it will be complete by the end of this week.”

There have been complaints over dead animals being transported from the site, noxious smells and sightings of rats. In March a fire in an old tyre shed also saw the farm shrouded in thick black smoke and had to be tackled by firefighters.

Christopher Shepherd, who has twice been declared bankrupt, has been attempting to strike a deal to sell up.

However his half share, or ‘title’ is now currently being held by Scotland’s Insolvency Service, Account in Bankruptcy (AIB), further complicating matters.

A number of different organisations, including the county council, police, the Environment Agency and Defra have been involved with West Musgrave Farm.

They have rejected suggestions from local residents that they were slow to act, citing the farm’s ownership as a sticking point.