A WIDOW'S David-and-Goliath battle against National Grid plans to build pylons on her land goes to the High Court next month.

Rosalind Craven, of Home Farm, Huby, is hoping campaigners against the controversial power line across the Vale of York will turn up for the two-day hearing in Leeds in early December in a show of support and solidarity.

She is also planning to apply for legal aid to assist her in complex legal arguments against the company, which wants to construct three pylons on her fields.

But Mrs Craven, 61, who says she cannot afford to pay for legal representation, says she will battle on alone against National Grid's barristers if she fails in her bid for aid.

She has spent months carrying out detailed research into the law on issues such as access rights and human rights, and believes she still has a chance of winning her case against the power company, bringing the massive construction project to a halt.

Mrs Craven hit the headlines in September when she saw off National Grid and its contractors as they sought to gain access to her land.

She refused to stand aside, stating that she was claiming her constitutional and democratic rights to property, free speech, peaceful protest and to assemble with others.

Updated: 12:21 Monday, November 11, 2002