A dispute between a Kingsteignton brother and sister about the future of their historic family farm has brought them head to head in a planning battle.

Philip Wrayford has already set about renting seven former stables at Whiteway Barton for use as storage units despite being refused planning permission for a change of use.

He said the way forward as farming declined was to find new sources of income.

But Teignbridge Council has fears that the narrow lane which serves the farm and six houses is inadequate.

As many as 500 people already attend regular motocross meetings there and horse owners keep their animals in the fields.

There has been a farm of sorts on the remote spot on Lindridge Hill, a mile off Hestow Road, for centuries.

Who now owns what is unclear as the estate has yet to be settled following the death of Mrs Wrayford senior in 2004.

The main beneficiaries are thought to be her son Philip and daughter Doris Derrick, who lives in the grade two listed farmhouse with husband Michael.

The couple have retired from farming but both they and their neighbours want to keep the area predominantly agricultural.

But Mr Wreyford, who now lives in the town, favours further diversification and has appealed against the refusal for storage.

On Tuesday, a hearing conducted by planning inspector Barry Juniper began at Forde House, Newton Abbot, with brother and sister at either ends of the table.

Also present were Frank Loft and Jackie Hooper, neighbouring landowners opposed to Mr Wrayford's scheme.

Mr Juniper said Mr Wrayford's argument was based on a claim that allowing a change of use would decrease the amount of traffic.

Mr Wrayford told the hearing that in previous years the farm had housed dairy cows, a sheepwash and as many as 2,000 ducks and geese.

'The storage business is less vehicles than it ever was with stabling or agriculture,' he said, adding that storage produced less noise and fewer bad odours than farming.

Mr Derrick disagreed. 'We live there. The general volume of traffic has been gradually increasing over the years,' he said.

'I can only go on the facts,' said Mr Wrayford.

'I've got the facts,' replied his sister.

Mr Juniper advised the siblings they were unlikely to agree and moved the business on.

Mr Loft, who described Mr Wrayford's comments about a reduction in farm noises as 'odious', said: 'People accepted when they bought a house there near a country farm there would be agricultural noises.'

Mrs Hooper picked up on a concern expressed by Mrs Derrick that with storage facilities just yards from her home she would not know who might be there after dark. 'Rural crime is on the increase. Putting storage there will make the place more attractive to burglars,' she said.

Cllr Beryl Austen, the ward member who was also present, had something to say about the state of the verges along Lindridge Hill.

'We're not talking about passing places more erosion due to the unsuitability of the road,' she said.

The hearing went on a site visit and Mr Juniper's decision will be announced later this year.