THE owners of a west Suffolk equine centre have been ordered to remove their “unapproved” home.

According to documents that were considered by St Edmundsbury Borough Council’s development control committee, Neil and Julia Carson, who own Springfield Farm Equines on Colethorpe Lane, Barrow, have lived on the site since 2009.

But planners claimed their single-storey “dwelling”, along with a linked tack room and a hay store, is unauthorised and today councillors have approved an enforcement notice that will require the removal of the buildings from the farm.

Speaking before the meeting Mrs Carson said if the dwelling is removed they would lose their business - as many horse owners demand that they live on site while providing livery and retraining services.

She added that they intend to appeal any enforcement notice, while also submitting another application for temporary planning permission.

Mrs Carson said: “We will fight because it is our livelihood. We are local people trying to make an honest living.”