A WRIT has been served on contractors for a pollution spill which threatens a stud farm business.

Four years after an escape of 1,500 gallons of diesel on to their land, stud farm owners Heather and Ken Saddington are still unable to accept visiting mares.

Solicitors acting for the couple have served papers on contractors HJ Banks, who admit responsibility for the diesel spill.

The Saddingtons' horses were afflicted with sores and recurring dermatitis from a stream and bog at Carlton Bank Stud, near Stokesley, polluted by the 1998 escape.

They have been advised that they could expose themselves to legal action if customers' mares developed similar symptoms.

Much of their business now revolves around artificial insemination

The couple say experts have told them the farm land could be contaminated for 20 years.

"We have arrived at what is an honest figure, nothing we cannot prove," said Mrs Saddington.

"My hopes for the future are to be compensated for the losses we have suffered so we can carry on with a future. We have still not been compensated."

The diesel spilled from a tank which overturned during restoration work on erosion scarred Carlton Bank by West Cornforth contractors HJ Banks which admits responsibility for the spill.

Banks had offered Mr and Mrs Saddington a compensation payment of £10,000, but the couple say it would not cover the cost of work to correct the damage done.

There was no one available to comment for Banks yesterday. The firm has previously said it was willing to reach a settlement.