ACTIVISTS who re-occupied Yorkley Court Farm near Lydney on Friday attacked contractors and set fire to a £30,000 welfare unit installed that day, claims the landowner.

The police and fire brigade were called to the farm and the main Lydney to Yorkley road closed for the second day in succession after the environmentalists who set up an eco-farm in 2012 returned after being evicted on Thursday.

Mr Brian Bennett said he had to evict the ’squatters’, who had been on site since 2012, or risk imprisonment for breaking planning law.

He has been given planning permission by the Forest of Dean District Council to build a solar farm on part of the site.

The activists claim he is not the rightful owner and they have discovered the identity of the family that should have inherited the 180-acre farm.

A statement issued in the name of the landowner said: "“I tried to avoid this eviction by offering to help the squatters relocate” said the landowner.

“They’re fully aware of the legal action against me as a result of their actions whilst occupying the farm.

"I offered an alternative plot of land to grow their crops and also financial and practical help with the move but they refused to co-operate leaving me no option but to evict them.

"I’ve been increasingly concerned about the damage caused to the farm and have received many requests from local people asking me to deal with the situation.

"I’m disappointed that they’ve refused to leave peacefully and seem intent on criminal behaviour, damaging the farm and attacking others.

"I look forward to seeing Yorkley Court Farm tidied up over the coming weeks and restored to its original and natural condition.”

For the full story see next’s Review