A PRIEST has lost a ten-year legal battle to prevent sheep and cattle being driven past his Yorkshire Dales cottage.

The Reverend Charles Yeats said his rights were being violated by livestock and tractors using the lane next to his hillside retreat, near Gunnerside, in Swale-dale.

He regarded the land as his front garden.

The Durham Business School ethics lecturer claimed the track was part of his lawn after buying the property in 1994.

But John and Annie Porter, who farm the land with their sons Bryan and Steven, argued that their ancestors had been using the track since the 18th Century.

The family produced deeds for their farm showing that they were allowed access.

The case was initially heard in Teesside and then Newcastle, where it was thrown out in December.

Claims that the farmers had herded cattle at high speed past his house, broken a window and carried out a vehicle three-point turn on the track were also dismissed.

Last week, South African-born Mr Yeats, 50, a former Durham University chaplain, went to London's Civil Appeal Court to ask for permission to appeal.

He pleaded with the judge that his "uniquely attractive Dales farmhouse" at Oxnop Ghyll would be forever blighted if tractors were allowed to continue driving past it.

But Lord Justice Chadwick told the priest that any appeal was bound to fail.

The judge added that it was "not a good idea to fall out with your neighbouring farmer".

John Porter, 68, said he believes stress created by the dispute caused him to suffer a stroke.

His son Steven, 41, said: "We have had a lot of sleepless nights and I have lost all faith in vicars.

"It would have been a four-mile round trip if we could not use the lane. We offered him arbitration but he refused and he alleged all sorts of things in court, but they were all thrown out.

"All we've been doing is defending our rights that were set down in the deeds.

"We were told that if we didn't defend them, we would lose them."

The Porters estimate that they have spent £40,000 on legal fees fighting the case.

After the hearing in London, Mr Yeats said: "I am clearly disappointed by this judgement. However, I appreciate the judge not placing me in a position where I could have incurred further costs.

"I must now bow to his wisdom.