NATIONAL Grid staff backed down today in the face of a sit-down protest by two North Yorkshire farming brothers, angered by moves to place two power pylons near their home.
Guy Bradbury from National Grid left John and Richard Gill's field at Alne near Easingwold, though police had secured them access to the land.
John Gill said: "They've gone for now and it's a relief. But they'll be back later.
"We don't want them on our land. They are not welcome here."
Mr Bradbury and the police left the field after a heated argument with the farmers, who do not want two pylons being built near their farmhouse.
The brothers staged their protest in a bid to prevent National Grid getting on to their land for surveying work for one of the pylons.
The power company also intends building a second pylon on nearby land which is not part of the Gills' Station Farm.
The pylons are among dozens which are to be erected as part of a controversial 50-mile power line through the Vale of York.
Mr Gill said: "The pylon would be within 80 metres of our farm buildings and 100 metres of our home. It is not acceptable to have it so close to where we live."
The brothers have been fighting the pylon proposal for 12 years, and are active members of REVOLT, which is campaigning against the power line.
About a dozen members of REVOLT joined them for the protest.
Updated: 11:59 Wednesday, February 13, 2002
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