THE STRUGGLES of Holtby pig farmer Chris England and his family will be highlighted on national TV as a documentary follows him taking the difficult decision to turn his back on farming.

Chris, a well-known figure in the British Pig Industry Support Group, appears in the Channel 4 Dying Breed series which gathered critical praise for its handling of the British farming crisis as seen in North Yorkshire.

Chris featured briefly in the first episode, which attracted almost two million viewers, but his character will come to the fore in Sunday's episode which sees him eventually decide to apply for planning permission to knock down his farm, in York's green belt, and build houses on it.

Since making the documentary the application has been refused by City of York Council.

Chris said: "I think the first episode was very interesting and positive but the reviewers said they would have preferred to know more about the actual problems farmers face. I think this will become a lot more clear in this second part."

The episode, to be broadcast at 8pm on Channel Four, will feature a showdown between some North Yorkshire farmers and Nick Brown, Minister for Agriculture.

The two sides meet each other in his Newcastle constituency and, in the words of Nic Gutteridge, the show's assistant producer, "a lively debate" takes place.

"If you are looking for good TV it's a great sequence," said Nic, who would not reveal the exact details of what takes place.

The show will again feature dairy farmer and Methodist preacher Paul Dunn and pig farmers Johnny Piercy, and his son Martyn, as they all try to weather out the crisis.

Nic said he had received a lot of positive feedback since the first show was aired.

"The reaction from farmers has been great. I have not had a single criticism," he said.

The third and final episode of Dying Breed will be shown on Sunday, August 6, at 8pm.

reporters@ycp.malton.fsnet.co.uk