ADVICE has been issued to farmers who fear that allowing motorsports on their land will jeopardise payments under the single farm scheme.

But sports enthusiasts say the guidance offers little hope for hundreds of events in rural areas.

The Country Land and Business Association's chief economist has said that most landowners should be able to host events such as motorcycle trials without losing out financially.

Prof Alan Buckwell said that whole fields and areas used for sports would not be eligible for payment. However, where a track or strip of land was used as a course, its area should be deducted from that of the total field and payment claimed for the remaining part.

The clarification from the CLA followed the cancellation of a number of events in the last three weeks owing to new regulations from the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs linked to the single farm payment scheme.

Among the victims was the Stake Road motorcycle trial due to be held two weeks ago near Bainbridge, Wensleydale. There are fears for other Yorkshire Dales events, including the national Scott Trial in Swaledale and Arkengarthdale in October.

Supporters of motorsports say the CLA advice offers little comfort for organisers and participants. "National trials go dozens and dozens of miles over the Dales and there aren't fields, there are bogs, streams, rocks and quarries," said the D&S Times' motorsports correspondent, Wally Richmond.

"It is a disaster for the sport, which raises a lot of money for charity and which helps teach youngsters how to ride safely and properly. A lot of the landowners take part in the sport."

In many cases, landowners would find it too complicated to fathom out exactly the area used by motor vehicles and would be reluctant to risk a costly mistake while filling in payment claim forms.

Many events were held just once a year and landowners could be unwilling to risk a whole year's payment for one event.

Dorothy Fairburn, Yorkshire regional director of the CLA, said motorsports enthusiasts might be willing to make up the financial difference in order to continue enjoying their sport.

"If a large part of a field is taken up with the sport, then the conclusion is that it is used for non-agricultural use and the farmer will not be able to collect single farm payment for that field," she said. "However, the enthusiasts may be willing to pay the difference."

Events cancelled this year, as farmers sought clarification in time for the May 16 deadline for claims, might be reinstated in future as the picture became clearer, she added.