A farmer depressed by his financial problems and the outbreak of foot and mouth barricaded a road with bales of hay before setting them alight.

Harry Sutcliffe, 44, was involved in a four-hour stand-off with police and a fire crew after he set light to bales of hay he had placed right across the carriageway of Bingley Road at Cullingworth in March, Bradford Crown Court heard.

After dousing the bales of hay with petrol, Sutcliffe set them alight before climbing into his tractor, which was parked close to the barricade.

Prosecutor Nicholas Askins said that when a policewoman arrived on the scene, Sutcliffe threatened to douse her with petrol and set her alight if she touched him.

"Fearing for her safety, the officer then retreated to a safe distance," he said.

At the time Sutcliffe made the threat, a member of the public noticed that he had a container of petrol on his tractor and also what looked like a pick-axe handle.

Mr Askins said fire officers who attended were concerned because they could see Sutcliffe smoking in his tractor cab, but when he was approached by a police sergeant, he again made threats to douse himself and anyone else in petrol.

"After approximately four hours of stand-off and negotiation, which involved the presence at the scene of a fire crew and in excess of 20 police officers the defendant, it is fair to say, agreed to hand himself over," said Mr Askins.

Sutcliffe, who was noted to be depressed during questioning, told officers that he had financial problems following a dispute with his bank and those difficulties were compounded by the outbreak of foot and mouth disease.

"He said he had planned the demonstration earlier that day and had wished to draw attention to his plight in the hope that a representative from his bank would come out and speak to him about his problems,'' said Mr Askins.

Sutcliffe, of Cow House Farm, Bingley Road, admitted threatening the policewoman, but said he had not set out with the intention of harming anyone.

The farmer, who had no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to charges of affray and possessing an offensive weapon at Bingley magistrates in April and was committed to the Crown Court for sentence.

But yesterday Recorder Stephen Williamson decided to adjourn the case so that further information about Sutcliffe's medical history could be obtained.