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

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

The stream crosses his land and even flooded the farmstead in the autumn of 2000. But after investigating upstream a fortnight ago, he discovered the course of the beck had been altered, and it was now flowing into a new pond dug on land adjoining his own.

"It was the weekend after Easter when we first noticed the beck was completely dry," he said. "I knew 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."

Tunstall Beck flows downstream into Brough Beck which in turn crosses the picturesque Catterick Village green.

A spokesman for the Environment Agency confirmed experts had examined the pond and had contacted the pond owner, Kevin Tiplady - who has now diverted the back onto its old course.

"The agency will continue to monitor the situation and work with the landowner to ensure there is no repeat." He confirmed the impact on local wildlife had been a concern, although there are not thought to have been any rare species living in the water and there did not appear to be a 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 he was still not entirely happy with the outcome. "I'm glad the stream's flowing again but it's taken three weeks to get something done about it," he added.