A couple who helped turn a once-derelict farm into a top tourist attraction have revealed how vandals have driven them to the verge of quitting.

James and Denise Wainhouse, tenants at St Leonard's Farm Park in the village of Esholt, say their health has been affected by the spate of vandalism.

The couple, who have two children, Rhys, six, and one-year-old Meron, say they have endured a catalogue of incidents at the 80-acre site over the past few weeks and say they are considering selling up if things don't improve.

Mrs Wainhouse, 36, said: "We've had 400m of dry-stone wall knocked over, two wooden gates smashed, a metal gate taken off its hinges, three thefts from the wishing well in which money's collected for the Rare Breeds Survival Trust and a key stolen from a tractor.

"We're looking at several thousand pounds worth of damage and it's really upset us - I've been physically ill because of all the stress and it's getting to the stage where we're thinking of moving on.

"We've put a lot of time, energy, money, blood and tears into this place and really don't want to leave.

"But you only get one life and we've got a family to look after so you've got to start thinking about possibly moving on and making a happier life elsewhere.''

James, 33, said: "Hopefully we'll pull through but it just makes you wonder why you're carrying on, especially with farming going through such a bad patch.

"Instead of making a little bit of money we're now losing on the farming side. And because of all the rain last summer we had less visitors coming in.''

The working dairy farm, which is a Bradford Council holding and attracts thousands of visitors a year, is due to re-open on January 2 and will be open between 10am and 4pm at weekends only until Easter.

PC Brian Watson, beat manager for Lower Baildon, Charlestown and Esholt, said the matters were being investigated.''

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