COUNCILLORS have agreed to divert a footpath around an alpaca farm in a moorland village.

The request was approved by Blackburn with Darwen planning and highways committee on Thursday.

It came from the owner of Pottery Farm off Roman Road in Eccleshill.

The committee authorised the change to Public Footpath 5 Eccleshill.

A report to councillors said: "The council received an application on January 12 2021 from the current owner of Pottery Farm requesting the diversion of Public Footpath 5 Eccleshill.

“The application sought to formalise a previous concessionary route but this was substandard in places with no scope for improvement.

“In addition, the new owner keeps and breeds alpacas which means both the definitive route and the proposed diversion were subject to significant limitations, i.e. gates and stiles, in order to control the stock within enclosures.

“After further discussions a diversion route was agreed by all parties.

“This route is away from the area containing the alpacas which means there is less need for limitations on the route.”