Horse riders, walkers and ramblers are fighting back in a row over a disputed farm track.

Members of Kirklees Bridleways Group are angry that a ‘right of way’ through Nether Moor Farm at South Crosland has been blocked.

Campaigners say the lane – which they claim has been a public right of way for decades – has been stopped up with boulders, barbed wire, tree trunks and a caravan.

The Examiner has reported how the landowners, farmers Angela and Edward Bradley, insist the lane has never been open for public access and was added in error to the definitive map – the official record of footpaths – in the 1990s.

But local people say that’s not the case and neighbour Sue Chadwick, who runs a livery stables, said: “The lane is recorded on the map as a public right of way and the council has a legal duty to ensure it remains open.

“I have been riding on this lane for 43 years. There were some boulders put across in 2007 to keep out travellers and a gate has been put up, which is fine because it can be opened and closed.

“But in May the lane was blocked with more boulders. I have an eventing horse and we jumped the obstacles and went down to see whether we could get through.

“We went down the track where it goes through the farmyard but there was a tractor parked across.”

READ MORE: I spent four hours in a cell — and I'll do it again: Campaigner Andy Dunlop to risk arrest again in right-of-way row at Nether Moor Farm

Farmers Angela and Edward Bradley refuse to allow Kirklees' officials on to their land.

Mrs Chadwick, a member of the Kirklees Bridleways Group, said the lane had also been blocked with “large logs, boulders, barbed wire, a mountain of tree cuttings and a caravan.”

She said there were local people who had used the track for 70 years and there was an important principle at stake.

“Kirklees has a legal obligation to keep the right of way open,” she said. “We don’t want other farmers to start closing these tracks just because the council won’t keep them open as they should.”

Last year there was a stand-off between the Bradleys and their rights of way adviser Andy Dunlop, who was arrested for blocking the lane with his car.

Blocked byway at Nether House Farm, South Crosland.

He was later released and has not been charged with any offence.

READ MORE: Six council workers, five police officers and a farm yard gate: find out more about a rural right of way row in Huddersfield

Kirklees has sent the Bradleys a notice ordering them to clear the lane, otherwise the council will.

Mr Dunlop claimed the council was wrong and vowed to be arrested again if they came back.

Mrs Bradley said: “We do not consider it to be public right of way so any blockages are legal.”