FARMING couple Peter and Anne Lang have come up with their own way of beating the agricultural crisis - by putting pen to paper.

After 15 years of cattle farming at Hawnby, near Helmsley, they decided to diversify and opened their own art school.

Now a barn at their farm at Broadway Foot has been converted into an art studio, which they hope will attract students from around the country and overseas.

"We have been farming since the mid-1980s, and it's been a real struggle and very difficult to make a profit," said Mrs Lang.

"We're now planning to reduce the size of our herd and concentrate on the art centre."

Arts courses in various techniques are being planned.

"I have been a water colour painter for 17 years, and I am qualified to teach," she said.

The courses will run all year, and students will stay in hotels and guest houses, boosting the tourism industry generally.

"It is a beautiful part of the world, and the students will be painting the scenery and, of course, our cows," said Mrs Lang.

"The idea that they will be doing all this on a proper working farm will, hopefully, be an added attraction."