Wild boar has become such a popular dish on the menu of Dales eateries that farmer Michael Vaux wants to expand his business.

He needs to persuade the Yorkshire Dales National Park, which meets today, to allow him to construct a home for his family and an agricultural building for the animals.

Since he set up in business two years ago, wild boar sausages, hams and bacon have become popular on the menu at The Devonshire Arms Hotel at Bolton Abbey, the Buck Inn at Buckden, and at Old Hall, Threshfield.

But Mr Vaux, his wife and two children have been living in a temporary chalet-type home at Calf Croft, Thorpe Lane, at Cracoe, while running the business.

Now he believes permission to expand could create two full-time jobs and two part-time jobs.

He said he had reached full production with 35 sows and expected to produce about 550 wild boar over the next 18 months.

"If we receive approval we will get a grant from the Govern-ment-backed Business Link organisation, whose mandate is to encourage schemes such as ours," said Mr Vaux.

A national park spokesman said the proposal was to take away the existing chalet and build a house and a new building to house the wild boar.

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