A CHEEKY mystery gardener has fenced off part of a publicly owned nature haven and planted a crop of potatoes.

The anonymous green-fingered person has dug over, planted and barricaded off an area on Settle's Castleberg - land owned by Settle Town Council.

Castleberg is in the national park and every year nature conservation volunteers carry out routine work on the area.

There is a public footpath all the way up to the top of the limestone outcrop which dominates Settle.

The garden, at the Zion Church end of the Castleberg land, was spotted by the council's handyman, the late Allan Laing, who did a lot of work on conservation on Castleberg as well as keeping an eye on it as part of his duties.

Shortly before his death a few months ago Mr Laing reported a fence had appeared around the garden, clerk Peter Leng told councillors on Monday.

Mr Leng investigated and found a considerable area had been fenced and cultivated.

He said: "There is a fence and a reasonable crop of spuds growing. The area is about 100 square yards."

Councillors were incredulous at the cheek of the anonymous gardener and called for action to reclaim their land.

Chairman Coun Beth Graham said: "It can't continue. This is our land. It is highly improper. Maybe we should ask the neighbours over the wall if they have seen anything."

Members suggested ripping the fence out and pulling up the crops.

Coun Geoff Craven said: "I think once we start digging the spuds up someone will come out and say they're mine."

However, Coun Edith Secretan suggested delaying action until after the potatoes had been harvested but she received no support for this course of action.

A notice could be posted on the offending fence, warning that it was to be pulled up unless action was taken to remove it by whoever had installed it, suggested Coun David Heather.

Mr Leng advised a "softly softly" approach by writing to neighbouring properties in the hope that word would get through to the mysterious gardener and he or she would stop their activities before the council was forced to take action. Councillors agreed to this but said they also wanted to see the fence removed swiftly.