Farmer Andrew Cumming wants to make an amazing impact on the rolling countryside at his 400 acre North Yorkshire farm.

With jigsaw-like precision he is aiming to create a 10-acre maze in a field of maize at his arable dairy farm between Boroughbridge and Knaresborough.

Already dubbed locally the Hampton Court Maize of the North the venture will be opening between mid-July and September.

Mr Cumming, 38, has no idea how many visitors his diversification venture will attract so members of the extended Cumming family, who have strong links with the Arkendale area, will be ready to man the gates, car park and generally oversee their debut probject.

Andrew's father Graham, also a farmer in the area, said: "Everything we are doing is a first. Andrew is trying to diversify with this and to make a bit more money than you do from farming at the moment."

Andrew is seeking planning permission for the venture at Tuesday's meeting of a Harrogate Borough Council planning committee at Knaresborough.

Planning officer Neville Watson is recommending approval.

He says: "This is considered an acceptable farm diversion project with a limited season of use. But to give an opportunity to assess traffic it is recommended that permission be temporary for only two years with restricted opening hours."

The farm is half way between Arkendale and Ferrensby and, if given the go ahead, would be open each day between 10am-6pm.

A firm specialising in setting out maize mazes from the South east would create the pathways and dead ends.

The enterprise would also feature a hay bale maze and rope maze. And for those discovering the way out the exit would be via a triumphal victory bridge.

Arkendale Parish Council do not object to the scheme but have concern about potential traffic problems on minor roads. They are also worried about possible future development.

Mr Watson says levels of traffic were difficult to predict, but the plan had not brought an objection from North Yorkshire highway chiefs.

The maze will not be visible from outside the site because of a large maize barrier around it. The hay bale and rope mazes would be screened by maize, as well as the car park.

Because of this Mr Watson said there would be no adverse effect on amenity.

He is proposing a condition that equipment from the site should be removed witin 14 days of harvesting the crop.