FARMER Arnold Davenport staged a three-hour rooftop demo against eviction after 50 years at Harwood's last working farm.

Mr Davenport climbed on to the roof of his old farmhouse and defied police and bailiffs for three hours.

He was eventually persuaded down after the bailiffs agreed to refer the case back to the courts.

Bare-chested Mr Davenport climbed on to the roof of his rented Nab Gate Farm, Stitch-mi-Lane, Harwood, shortly after 8am clutching a bible and a bugle.

He is fighting plans by the landowner to demolish the farm and build luxury homes on the site.

Mr Davenport, aged 58, who has lived in the house since he was 13 is refusing to leave the farm. He has been fighting eviction for more than a year.

Today, watched by a small group of supporters, Mr Davenport barricaded himself in the farmhouse and then climbed to the roof.

As police officers and bailiffs arrived Mr Davenport shouted: "I will die before I come down. I know I am breaking the law but I am prepared to go to Strangeways."

Residents watched as police inspector Paul Murphy attempted to talk down Mr Davenport by joining him on the roof but the farmer refused to leave.

Residents watched in alarm from the streets below as Mr Davenport started walking over the roof shouting abuse and quoting the bible.

Resident Mrs Maureen Walker said: "That lad has gone through mental torture. This is like watching a death sentence. My whole family is here offering our support. This is scandalous."

Insp Murphy clambered up a 20ft ladder to negotiate. He said: "The police are here to keep the peace. We do not want any trouble."

But shouting from the roof a defiant Mr Davenport declared: "I have never slept away from this farm in 43 years and I am not going to start now. They are not going to get me down. I'll die, I'll die here before I come down."

He praised the support of residents and the 'solid' people of Harwood who have signed a 1,000 signature petition against his eviction. The farmer climbed down at 11.30am after the bailiffs agreed to leave. Mr Davenport later went to a nearby field to tend his sheep.