A FARMING family has lost a major part of its livelihood after being forced to sell off their 40-strong herd of dairy cows.

Albert Stott and his son Andrew took the action because the milking shed and cow cubicles at their Coney Green Farm in Radcliffe face demolition to make way for new homes.

Peel Investments, which owns the 46 hectare farm, had ordered the farmers to vacate the buildings by July.

The sale of their dairy herd will cost the father and son £2,000 a month in lost milk revenue. The farm will now be solely devoted to sheep.

Coney Green Farm has been in the Stott family for the past 35 years. Albert (71) owns the lease and runs the farm with his son Andrew (42).

When the outline application to build 20 homes on the land was originally lodged with Bury Council three years ago, it was recommended for approval. But this was on the condition that a new milking shed was provided.

It is understood that after Peel told the local authority they could not reach a compromise with the farmer, the application was rejected. However, the company apparently successfully appealed against the decision.

But this week the local authority said they had received no fresh application from the company for the housing development.

Andrew said: "We're selling off our 40 cows because we've been told we'll have to vacate the milking shed and cow cubicles by July 5.

"The milk wagon has made its last visit. We feel sick about it all. We'll lose £2,000 a month because of this and I'll be forced to seek a part-time job. You can't win against these people."

Mr Stott said the planned development would involve losing 0.2 hectares of the farmland. He is unaware of Peel's immediate intentions.

"I don't know if and when they're going to build the houses or if they're going to sell the land," he added.

The Bury Times contacted Peel Investments for a response. But after several days, the company had failed to provide any comment on the plight of the Stotts or to give an indication if a full planning application was imminent.