A £500m plan to create a university super-campus will leave a family's life in ruins, a farmer said yesterday.

Chris Hawkswell was born at Lime Tree Farm, Heslington, York, and has spent his life farming the 300 acres of land.

The 45-year-old had hoped to pass on the farm to his son and daughter, but said the dream could be over if plans to extend the University of York get the go-ahead.

The plans would see the Hawkswells' land cut from 300 acres, from which the family earn £20,000 a year, to 70 acres, which they say would mean they would have to leave.

Mr Hawskwell said: "If we have to move, it will be devastating.

"Our children have been brought up here. The development would ruin my life."

Last week, planners approved the university's outline blueprint after an eight-hour meeting. The proposal, which would accommodate 3,300 more students and create 4,500 jobs, now looks likely to go to public inquiry.

The university's pro-vice chancellor, Professor Janet Ford, said the development would bring huge benefits to the city and region.

"We will continue to work to allay outstanding concerns members of the local community may have," she said