FARMERS fear their livelihoods will be put at risk by the restoration of the old Hereford & Gloucester Canal.

Tim and Beth Goulding, who run Holders Farm in Oxenhall, fear the restoration of the tunnel on their land would cause disruption to farm production.

The farm land, including the canal, was bought from the Onslow Estate just over a century ago.

Beth Goulding said: "The restoration of the canal could really affect us. It's not an overnight job. The machinery on our land would disrupt our farming – that's not to mention the damage it would do to the ground.

"If they try to reinstate the tunnel they are going to have to have vehicles and building materials on our fields. They would potentially need access to the tunnel line all the way along."

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