A Riddlesden man says he will jump in front of bulldozers to stop Yorkshire Water entering his land.

Richard Mozejko, who lives on Bradford Road, was told last May YW planned to hack up his riverside garden.

The company says it needs his and four other residents' land to lay surface water sewage pipes for a new housing development on Swine Lane.

But there were several delays on the site, earmarked for 400 homes, and other problems including a pipe laid from different ends which failed to meet in the middle.

So it was not until last week that the Mozejkos received official notification YW was coming through next Monday (Nov 13), whether they liked it or not.

Under the 1991 Water Industry Act YW can enter private land to lay pipes 'subject to reasonable notice and payment of compensation.'

But Mr Mozejko plans to fight them on land and in court if necessary.

He says: "I'm not going to let them in, no matter what - over my dead body."

If access is refused on Monday YW can return with a Warrant of Entry issued by the magistrates court.

If this happens Mr Mozejko says he is willing to fight it in court or stand his ground.

"It is a matter for them if they allow us access to their land," says a YW spokesman.

He could not give any details of compensation available to the Mozejkos, adding they were handled on an 'individual basis.'

Mr Mozejko also blames the Environment Agency for giving the scheme the go-ahead.

But an EA spokesman says their consent only relates to work connected to the river.

She says: "They have consent to build a concrete wall to prevent any erosion to the river bank.

"We haven't given them consent to go into peoples gardens. They only apply to us for anything relating to the watercourse."