PLANS to diversify a farm to create a new shop and cafe have been approved.

Carol and Peter Tyrie want to make the changes at Brocklehead Farm and Caravan Park on Roman Road in Eccleshill.

In a planning document the owners of the farm say that as subsidies are ‘being cut over the next seven years farmers are now looking to alternative income streams to keep their businesses operating.’ Carol said: “It is important for farms nowadays to diversify and try to get extra income and I think the caravan park needs a shop.

“We are not a million miles away from local people and there are not many shops nearby so it would be good for them to come.

“It will be nice to get people around the place when the Covid restrictions are over. There are plenty of nice walks around the site which is nice.

“Things are changing all the time especially with coronavirus and you need to go with the flow and we are excited about it.

“Hopefully we are looking to start work on it in the next few months as we wanted to open it this year.

“We put the application into the council last year and had to wait until now to hear back.”

Carol added that she was looking to employ workers for the cleaning and the cafe.

She said: “My daughter-in-law Chauntell Townson has been working with the caravan side of the business and we were packed every weekend when we got out of lockdown.

“We have a nice play area for the kids to enjoy and we think with more people wanting to holiday in the UK with caravans it could be good to have this here.