NATIONAL park bosses are backing the owners of a stud who are still waiting for compensation - more than two years after their land was hit by a diesel spill.

Since 1,500 gallons of diesel poured from an overturned tank above Carlton Bank Stud, in North Yorkshire, breeders Ken and Heather Saddington have had to water their horses and farm from pipes hooked up to the mains supply.

Despite their best efforts, including the installation of electric fences, their horses still manage to reach a contaminated stream running through the farm. Seven horses have been affected by the diesel.

Belinda, a pregnant international award-winning Hanoverian mare got into the stream only five weeks ago. All her legs swelled up with dermatitis and have had to be bandaged.

The spill occurred while West Cornforth-based contractor HJ Banks carried out a restoration programme for the North York Moors National Park Authority, on the erosion- hit hillside.

An all-weather exercise track was wrecked and the horses had to be hurriedly evacuated to a hay field, trampling down some of the crop.

Banks admits to the spill, but Mrs Saddington complains that in the 16 months since it happened "they have not even made us an insulting offer".

Now, the couple have put up a protest sign at the scene of the incident for all visitors to the park to see.

Mrs Saddington said: "We certainly did not want it coming out from a business point of view, but we have just got to the stage where we felt we had no option.

"No one is taking any notice of us.''

David Brewster, head of the Parks Service with the National Park said: "They have had very considerable problems associated with the diesel spillage. That problem is still going on. I am aware there is still diesel contamination two years on.

"I have even had meetings with the company secretary at Banks to get the situation resolved. I am frustrated it has not.''

The Environment Agency said it is monitoring the situation.

Mark Dowdall, environment manager with HJ Banks said: "We would be prepared to settle, provided they submit a sensible, reasonable, factual claim. To date, regrettably, they have not done so.

"We are not prepared to see it as an opportunity for wild claims. We expect any claim to be substantiated with evidence.''

Mr Brewster said: "This matter would be taken into account if future work they (Banks) were interested in, came available.''