A NORTH-EAST planning expert has taken on a complex planning role with a difference in the famous fictional town of Ambridge.

Dr Malcolm Bell, head of rural planning at law firm Ward Hadaway, in Newcastle, was invited by the script writers of The Archers on BBC Radio Four, to offer his real life advice on a rural planning storyline.

Dr Bell, who also contributes to the D&S Times' farming page, said: "I'm a listener and follow the characters and their stories closely.

"My involvement started when Graham Harvey, the agricultural story editor at the BBC who is also an old friend, discussed a plot involving the character Joe Grundy and his failed application to retain a barn.

"The information I gave to Graham meant that they could adapt the storyline to offer a solution that would allow Joe to overcome planning issues which were affecting his livelihood."

The writers were so pleased with the results that they have now asked Dr Bell to give advice on a storyline which involves building issues for Susan and Neil Carter's pig farm.

The storyline involves the Carters getting advice from a specialist planning consultant to build a dwelling on the farm.

"You could say that I'm the man behind that particular character so it's quite strange to hear the advice I have given being relayed on a programme that is listened to worldwide," Dr Bell said.

"What's important is that my recommendations to the show's producers are practical and reliable as many of the audience come from agricultural and farming backgrounds and will know their stuff.

"However I do not know how the script writers will have the story unfold, so I'll be listening with interest too."