A farmer is seeking legal advice after one of his fields was suddenly closed because it was contaminated.

James Lawn claims the situation is a "complete nightmare" because Bradford Council has stopped the field being used for an indefinite period.

The problem has arisen because the land in Cullingworth is next to the former Manywells landfill site which still emanates gas.

Mr Lawn, who is also a Cullingworth parish councillor, said: "I first noticed the problem a while ago.

"When they installed a generator at the landfill site, the whole field went yellow.

"Three or four weeks ago, a chap from the council turned up and just closed the field off.

"They said the hollows in the field contained landfill gas.

"It seems strange that they've just closed one field off - the gas is unlikely to be restricted to one area."

Mr Lawn used the field for grazing cattle in summer and sheep in winter.

He added: "I am consulting my land agent because he will know the legal ins and outs of it.

"The situation is a complete nightmare. It's a complete cock-up."

Bradford Council bought the Manywells landfill site in January for £500, claiming it would enable them to kick start a £5.8 million remediation scheme.

Parish councillors have criticised the lack of communication with Bradford Council, claiming they were unaware the council needed to purchase the site to proceed.

When the contractors went into liquidation in 2002, the land passed to the Crown.

Chris Whitam, principal environmental protection officer at Bradford Council, said: "The field at East Manywells Farm has been found to be contaminated land because of its potential to hold carbon dioxide gas from the neighbouring Manywells landfill.

"There are a number of low-lying hollows in the field which may, in extreme circumstances, fill with landfill gas and cause asphyxiation.

"We monitor the landfill gas around the site every week and so far there is no evidence the landfill gas is reaching the hollows. But the precautionary warning signs will stay in place until all remediation work has been has been done at the landfill, which could be two to three years."