A TENANT farmer in Bosbury says he will carry out a dirty protest using cow manure if Herefordshire Council attempts to evict him.

Ex-serviceman John Barron of Beaconhill Farm said: “Without this farm I am homeless and destitute.

“I cashed in my military pension to buy stock and pay bills. I have nothing to lose. Put me in jail - it solves the homelessness problem.”

He said of his protest plans: “I would lock the door and resist passively. I would fill balloons with cow slurry and cover myself and my whole house with slurry.

“If they come to arrest me, it will be a dirty arrest. There will be a lot of cow manure flying.”

Mr Barron lost a high court battle in June, when a judge ruled that Herefordshire Council had a legal right to re-possess the farm which is administered on behalf of the Buchanan Trust.

The trust was set up after the First War World to give ex-servicemen a place to farm.

Mr Barron feels that as an ex-serviceman he has earned his right to remain at the farm.

But a debate with the council over the rent meant that Mr Barron did not accept a new tenancy agreement when it was offered in 2005, and the offer was withdrawn.

Mr Barron said he had continued to pay rent, and at the new rate, and he was no longer in any arrears.

He said: “All I want is a new tenancy agreement and to keep my home and livelihood.”

The farmer maintains a head of 50 Jersey cattle and he produces Beaconhill Ice Cream, which is sold at the Ice Bytes cafe in Ledbury.

Herefordshire Council spokesman John Burnett said: “For a number of years the trustees have had concerns over Mr Barron’s management of the farm both financially and in respect of his husbandry.

“The court granted an extension of time for the operation of the order of possession, giving him until October 31 this year to get his affairs in order before vacating the farm.

“As he has not complied with this order from the High Court, legal proceedings are continuing and it would be inappropriate to make further comment at this time.”

The High Court judge in June said he hoped that “some fruitful negotiations might take place”.