A STREAM which dried up for the first time in living memory was flowing again yesterday after the Environment Agency was called in to settle a dispute between neighbouring landowners.

Fred Donaldson said Tunstall Beck had never been empty in the 70 years he has lived at Cowstand Farm, west of the A1, near Catterick, North Yorkshire.

The stream, which crosses his land, even flooded the farmstead during the autumn of 2000.

But, after making investigations upstream a fortnight ago, he discovered that the course of the beck had been altered, and it was flowing into a new pond dug on adjoining land.

"It was the weekend after Easter when we first noticed the beck was completely dry," said Mr Donaldson.

"I knew that the neighbouring landowner had dug a pond, but that was in September or October last year.

"When the beck dried up a fortnight ago, I had another look and found the water was disappearing into it."

The beck flows into Brough Beck, which crosses Catterick Village green.

A spokesman for the Environment Agency said yesterday that experts had examined the pond and contacted its owner, Kevin Tiplady, who had diverted the beck back to its old course.

"The agency will continue to monitor the situation and work with the landowner to ensure there is no repeat," said the spokesman.

He said that the impact on local wildlife had been a concern, although there were not thought to have been any rare species inhabiting the water.

there did not appear to be potential for long-term environmental damage.

Mr Tiplady declined to discuss the matter further.

"It is being dealt with by the Environment Agency and the local planning department. I have nothing to say," he said.

But Mr Donaldson said that he was still not entirely happy with the outcome.

"I am glad the stream is flowing again, but it has taken three weeks to get something done about it," he said.