A YORK farmer's ambitious plans for a mammoth "maize maze" on the city's outskirts are set to go before planners.

Tom Pearcy, of Ox-Close Farm in Heslington, hopes to install a giant crop of maize in his field near the Grimston Bar park and ride site before sculpting it into a vast maze in the shape of a Viking longship.

Similar mazes have proved a huge hit in the South of England, and, if the plans get the green light, Tom's maze will be the first in the North.

With its 27 acres and five miles of walkways, the maze could also become Britain's largest.

Tom conceived the maze as a way to diversify out of farming, and believes it could attract new tourism to the city.

The plans for the maze have now been submitted to City of York Council, and should go before councillors next month.

Tom said: "I'm just hopeful that the council will like it. We haven't got anything like this around here, and from my point of view, it represents my attempt to diversify out of farming."

The idea has been warmly welcomed by York Tourism Board.

Spokeswoman Kay Hyde said: "We would be very supportive of Tom's idea, and wish him every success. It would be a unique and unusual visitor attraction, and anything that adds to the variety that we already have is a good thing."

Updated: 11:20 Wednesday, February 20, 2002