VILLAGERS fighting plans to extend the life of a waste tip have won an unexpected ally - the landowner who owns part of the dump site.

Lawyers for smallholder David Gray are looking through the fine print of an agreement signed between his late father, James, and Biffa Waste Services, which wants to extend the life of the landfill site until November 2003.

Under the terms of the present planning agreement, tipping at Thornton Fields, Dunsdale, east Cleveland, should come to an end in September.

Mr Gray fears the incidence of foot rot among his sheep and the amount of standing water on his farm could be linked to tipping operations, which he believes may have altered the water table.

Tocketts Bridge Farm is up for sale, but Mr Gray says the tip is putting off potential buyers.

He said: "The tipping rights were sold by my father but he would turn in his grave if he was to see what has gone on there since his death.

"It was just a hole in the ground that needed to be filled in and that was all, but they have mounded it and it has become an eyesore. It has created such a problem that my solicitors are looking through the documentation, in respect of what was laid down."

He said: "We have a problem with flies, with vermin, plastic bags being blown everywhere and a problem with odour.

"They have done their best to solve everything we have complained about.

"There is supposed to be a tree belt to screen the tip from my property but the trees are not growing.

"My property is up for sale and the reason it is not being sold is because of the tip, it's an eyesore."

Redcar and Cleveland Borough councillors will discuss Biffa's application for an extension next month.

Council officials are recommending conditional approval of the application, but residents of Dunsdale are demanding an end to all tipping operations in the area.