WEST Somerset farmers are entitled to adopt a "less than courteous approach" and a "robust attitude" when they find visitors behaving badly on their land, local MP Ian Liddell-Grainger said this week.

He was commenting on Natural England’s new guidance under the Countryside Code urging farmers to steer clear of shouting ’Get off my land’ in favour of a friendlier approach, and asking trespassers if they are lost.

It also recommends using "friendly language" on signs to advise walkers on what they can and cannot do.

But Mr Liddell-Grainger said the guidance could only have been drawn up by someone who was completely out of touch with the way farmers have come under increasing pressure from unwanted intruders in the last few years.

"They were already getting pretty fed up with the way the Countryside and Rights of Way legislation had been presented as some kind of carte blanche allowing the public to wander wherever they liked," he said.

"But the pandemic saw unprecedented numbers of people wandering onto farmland as though they owned it, picnicking and letting their dogs off the lead to chase sheep.

"Farmers have put up with a huge amount of pressure over the last two years and I personally would not blame them if they adopt a less than courteous approach to people they find in places where they have no right to be.

"I would question what would be the attitude of an urban householder if he suddenly found a family having a picnic in his garden or allowing their dog to foul the flower bed."

Mr Liddell-Grainger said actual incidents of friction between farmers and visitors were thankfully quite rare.

"Farmers are generally content to welcome people into their land to enjoy the countryside - as long as they don’t stray into areas such as yards and buildings where they have no right to be," he said.

"But it must be remembered that for all its attractiveness the countryside is still a workshop, and impeding farmers’ ability to get on with their work is like walking into a factory and stopping a machine.

"And it is when such situations arise - when sheep are chased, gates left open, fences broken down or crops trampled that I believe farmers are justifiably entitled to adopting a robust attitude to those responsible."