A village split by a bitter row over the destiny of its allotments has been told all 370 households will have to share the parish council's hefty legal bill.

The precept set to cover the Barton administration's annual costs would normally be no more than £5,000.

But a three-fold increase to £20,000 for 2003 means each home will have to contribute an average of £50 on top of the usual Richmondshire district council tax bill - largely to pay lawyers who will represent the council in the next phase of a battle which has already lasted three years.

Ironically, the row began in 1999 when the parish council terminated its lease of the allotments, claiming they were too costly and used by too few people to be viable.

However, the decision prompted a furious response among the gardeners themselves, who pointed out the village authority was obliged to provide them with plots.

As recriminations grew increasingly acrimonious and the parish council was threatened with a judicial review, senior members of the village administration quit - to be replaced by allotment holders and their supporters, who promptly reversed the authority's stance on the issue.

But, by then, landowner Edward Hall had already begun examining other uses for his property and was reluctant to sign a new lease agreement.

In response, the new-look parish council persuaded Richmondshire District Council to support a Compulsory Purchase Order - but, as Mr Hall is still unwilling to sell, it seems likely the matter will have to be settled in the courts.

''The main point is that we have a statutory obligation to the allotment holders and there is no way we can fail to provide them with plots without being taken to court by the National Association of Allotment and Leisure Gardeners,'' said parish councillor, Alen McFadzean.

He added: "It is unfortunate we have had to ask the village for the money, but this is the cheapest solution."

Mr McFadzean also claimed the financial blow could be softened next year as, if the matter is settled in its favour, it is likely the parish council will not set a precept at all in 2004.

But former parish council chairman, Campbell Dawson, was yesterday equally adamant the current authority has missed opportunities to settle the matter out of court.

He said: ''The landowner offered them half the land as a compromise but they didn't want that; now, this could be just the first of a number of big bills, especially if the parish council has to buy the land from Mr Hall or pay his court costs.''

Mr Hall himself was reluctant to be drawn into the debate. ''I do regret the village is in dispute over the allotment land but this is not an argument of my making,'' he said.