The last egg farmer in Shipley is refusing to crack under pressure of a planning application which could destroy his livelihood.

Peter Kitching, 58, has rented Oak Bank Farm and the surrounding land in Wrose for 30 years. But his business, which supplies eggs to shops and markets, is under threat from planners who want to build ten houses with 22 parking spaces on the land.

If forced to move, he says it would be impossible for him to set up business elsewhere. "I have looked and I cannot find anything with any poultry buildings, they have all closed," said Mr Kitching, who lives at the farm with his wife and daughter.

"I would have to buy a house and five or six acres of land to build on. At my time of life I don't want to be laying out a lot of money."

But because of a similar planning application submitted for the land 12 months ago, which was later dropped before reaching the committee stage, the grandfather-of-four is ready to do battle.

He collected 2,600 customer signatures supporting his campaign and has submitted the petition to Bradford Council.

The land is owned by two brothers and a sister who have agreed to sell to developers Radical Property Ltd if the application is successful. Their solicitor, Patrick Till, said if permission was granted Mr Kitching would be told to evict the site.

"That's a valid reason for a notice to quit. It's the case for any farm, they have secure tenure for life, but if planning permission is granted the landlord can issue notice. It is only fair," he said.

Wrose Parish Council has circulated 100 letters to homes in and around Oakdale Grove and Oakdale Avenue urging residents to object to the plans.

David Jessop, chairman of Wrose Parish Council, said development on the site would turn a quiet area into a through-road for lorries. He said he was unhappy with the fact that site traffic would have to use a newly-developed estate to access the single-track Childs Lane leading to the land.

The 36 properties were built on the site of the former Oakdale First School 18 months ago by Radical Properties Ltd. Residents in the area have already campaigned for traffic calming after a girl was knocked down by a car on Oakdale Avenue.

Dawn Bedford led the bid after her eight-year-old daughter, Bethany, was left badly bruised after the accident six months ago.

Mr Jessop said: "The people who bought those houses on the Oakdale site thought they were buying on a quiet cul-de-sac."