A south Suffolk farmer has blasted a 114-mile pylon scheme after developers commenced surveys on his land while breaking an agreement in place not to carry out work during harvest.

Richard Langton, of Langton Farms, was getting his combine harvester ready last Tuesday morning when he noticed National Grid contractors in one of his fields in Little Wenham, near Capel St Mary. 

National Grid has since apologised to the landowners.

Under an agreement made with the company, which is behind the proposed Tilbury to Norwich pylon scheme, National Grid was obliged to give Mr Langton 48 hours' notice before carrying out any work on his land. 

National Grid were contracted to give 48 hours' notice - and not carry out work in harvestNational Grid were contracted to give 48 hours' notice - and not carry out work in harvest (Image: Georgina Langton-McColl)

As part of the terms, work was also not to take place in harvest. 

"He went to go and investigate what was going on and came upon them having flattened two areas of the field that they were preparing to do these surveys in," said Georgina Langton-McColl, who works at the farm alongside her father. 

"They had commenced digging in one of them and they had gone down by about half a metre, which is quite substantial when you think about it."

The National Grid scheme is set to see pylons erected throughout Suffolk. 

Part of Mr Langton's field was flattenedPart of Mr Langton's field was flattened (Image: Richard Langton)

A statutory public consultation into the project, which has proved controversial, finished last month.

Mrs Langton-McColl believes the same situation has happened to several farmers in the region.

"We are not alone," she added. 

"I know there are other farmers in the local area and across the route who have had exactly the same situation. They are breaking contractual terms over and over again." 

Mrs Langton-McColl said the "frustration" adds to the tough last few years farmers have endured.

She added: "To then have this complete lack of courtesy, it was shocking really.

"It is already a fraught time of year for farmers, so to then have this situation it is a sure fire way to send blood pressure to boiling point." 

National Grid has confirmed it will "compensate for any loss of crop".

It added the agreement in place had not been communicated to the survey team.

A spokesman said: “We are committed to working closely, fairly and consistently with farmers and landowners along the proposed Norwich to Tilbury route.

"We are conducting a review of our processes as a result and endeavour to avoid this happening again in the future."