Diddly Squat Farm staff are forced to wear body cameras, a catering trailer owner has said.

The hearing for Jeremy Clarkson’s planning appeals has entered its second day at West Oxfordshire District Council’s offices in Witney.

Mr Clarkson is appealing the council’s decision to refuse his applications for a car park, which would hold between 60-70 cars, and a restaurant.

Annabel Gray- who runs the catering trailer Baste on the farm- has said poor behaviour from locals has meant 16–18-year-olds working at the farm shop have been forced to wear body cameras.

Ms Gray said: “I have witnessed the behaviour of locals.

“The shop has been forced to put body cameras on employees, 16-18 year olds because of the way they were being spoken to.”

Ms Gray also highlighted there were few places in the UK where you can “receive an education on where food comes from” and she called on the council to “champion British farming”.

She said: “I find it frustrating the council is overlooking education.

“In the UK, there is a lack of education on where food comes from.

“The opportunity to go to the site and learn is massively important.”

Many of the visitors who come to the farm have never been to a farm shop before, Ms Gray said.

She revealed: “I have to explain to people that a beef burger contains cow.

“We should be eating seasonal and local food.

"My hope is people have something which is produced by the local farming community and then they go and seek it out in their own community.”

Ms Gray emphasised to the planning inspector Richard Perrins that “Jeremy’s following don’t have that education and they travel the long distance to experience something they have found so compelling on television”.

Ms Gray attacked West Oxfordshire District Council for not “championing” British farming and making the most of the “massive opportunity”.

She said: “You could be at the forefront of this.

“Why not do something with the farm shop instead of damaging it.

“Nobody likes change but let’s do it properly when we have this focus from the media.”

Senior Planning Officer Chris Wood responded to Ms Gray’s comments by arguing the way the shop was currently operating was responsible for bringing “locals and visitors into conflict with one another”.

Mr Wood also admitted locals may also be culpable for speeding down roads which are close to Diddly Squat farm.

Ms Gray also explained that Diddly Squat farm shop was very popular with the local caravan and camping club.

She added: “The wardens at the campsite would come round and have drinks with us.

“The site is sold out from the end of May to the start of September.

"I can tell you, the caravan and camping club very much like Clarkson's Farm being next to it."

An West Oxfordshire District Council spokesman said: "The work Diddly Squat Farm is doing to highlight how farming works and the wider challenges faced by farmers is very positive.

"We support education around farming and farm diversification to help local farmers bring in income as they have lost other funding.

"Most planning cases have their pros and cons as was obvious with the decisions for Diddly Squat Farm in Clarkson’s Farm.

"Indeed the Council recognised the benefits in the proposal to local farmers and the economy by allowing the sale of farming goods sourced within a 16 mile radius of the site, but the proposals for a restaurant did not meet other planning requirements.

"Over recent years, Diddly Squat Farm has had many planning applications approved where they were in line with national and local planning policy and worked for the local community and environment.

"This included approving the farm shop with its current car park.

"We will continue to work proactively in trying to resolve the issues at Diddly Squat Farm, working with the owners and agents."