Farmers close the gate on ramblers Anne Just, 56, of Dale Abbey, Derbys, has put up with horse riders going past her kitchen window since 1997, even though there is no right of way through the farmyard. The riders claim they have a right of way because a few were allowed through in the past. Marlene Masters, another farmer's wife with no legal training, has been fighting claims of footpaths through her land and others in Somerset for almost 20 years. She said the council accused her neighbour, Simon Watts, of "ploughing up a public highway" in his own cornfield - even though none existed. She said the stress was a "major contributory factor" in his suicide. Colin Ray, who started the campaign 18 months ago, said there were many more similar cases of footpaths through farm homes making people ill with stress. He blamed Right to Roam legislation that was being used to claim that walkers had a right to traipse through private homes and gardens. He claimed private farmyards and gardens should be exempt from the Bill. Mr Ray is holding meetings with department officials to get the proposal added to the draft Deregulation Bill, which is intended to cut red tape and "make life easier for individuals." Janis Davis, of the Ramblers, said the Deregulation Bill already had measures to make it easier for councils to offer alternative paths. Since the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 there has been a rise in confrontations over the right to roam. Campaigners believe the law did not take into account the rights of property owners or the cost to councils.