PARKEND has become the focal point for the war of words and insults which is surrounding the return of sheep to the Forest of Dean.

The gloves are coming off in the bitter battle between the badgers – the sheep owners – and those opposing them.

And both sides say they have had to endure insults as well as argument.

Commoners' Association secretary Mick Holder was trying to pour oil on troubled waters this week as he said "the only way is to work together".

"The last thing we wanted was a confrontation with the people of Parkend," he insisted.

Sheep have been reported straying in the village on several occasions since their return on April 1 – "It's appropriate that day was chosen as we must be April Fool's to have them back," said one anti-sheep protester.

Mr Holder said the problem was down to the refusal of DEFRA to pay for hefting pens to be constructed within the Forest. Payments have been made for hefting in Wales and Cumbria.

"It's not ideally how we wanted to be doing the job. If rehefting money had been forthcoming sheep would not be creating the same problems," said Mr Holder.

He said The Commoners' Association, supported by the NFU and those parties who had signed the Forest of Dean Sheep Agreement, were appealing against the refusal.

Mr Holder suggested anyone troubled by sheep could play a part by simply walking them into woodland areas.

Objectors say the Agreement is not worth the paper it is written on.

One told the Review: "It didn't take two minutes for the sheep to return to Parkend. They are being hefted in the village and they were soon on the roads. It's a disgrace, they have no place in today's world and for their own safety and the safety and health of everyone else they should no longer be allowed."

The word war has led to personal insults from both sides – and a claim that is bad news for Parkend that it is not included in any exclusion area.

Sheep, said a badger, could roam freely round Parkend as it was not a village settlement as such, which required houses on both sides of a road. There was nowhere in Parkend where that rule applied.

Commenting on the claim, Mr Holder said it was not an issue as he felt the whole matter could be settled by sensible co-operation.