CAMPAIGNERS are claiming what they hope will be the final victory in a long-running battle to protect a farm from development schemes.

A Government planning inspector is recommending that Home Farm, with its collection of early Victorian water powered agricultural machinery, be 'afforded protection from future development.'

The move follows a long and sustained community campaign to keep developers off the Victorian farm complex, on the outskirts of Guisborough.

"This appears to vindicate the stand we took all along; that this farm is a priceless part of our local heritage and should not be allowed to be the plaything of property developers," said a delighted John Wright, chairman of the Home Farm Action Group.

Colleague Clive Wilson added: "It looks as if the lobbying work we put in on this has now paid off."

Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland MP Ashok Kumar backed the campaigners all the way and said he was pleased to be part of the fight.

"They embodied the fighting spirit of people who were determined not to see their local environment despoiled by development which would have utterly ruined the character of a beautiful group of farm buildings and threatened the future of the tenant farmer and his family," he said.

The inspector has ordered a new policy to be drawn up between the National Park and Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council.

Council leader David Walsh said: "Our council has consistently recommended to the National Park Committee that no inappropriate development be allowed at Home Farm and we welcome the fact that we will, along with the National Park, be in the driving seat in development a policy that will mean that this spectre is hopefully finally laid to rest."

Coun Keith Pudney, the chairman of the plans committee of Guisborough Town Council, said: "The Town Council has always taken a firm stand against proposals for the development of this farm complex.

"We were concerned that if the breach had been opened, then it may have become an open goal for more housing development in that area of open countryside."