Demolition threat to eco-village

A TINY village that never made it on to any map faces demolition after it was spotted by a light aircraft surveying a national park.

The 22 residents of Brithdir Mawr, in the Pembrokeshire National Park, west Wales, generate their own electricity, grow their own food and take water from a nearby stream.

For the last four years its existence has remained an open secret. But the pilot of a light aircraft surveying the park spotted a solar panel on one of the roofs glinting in the sunlight and informed the authorities.

Park officials checked maps and found no record of the hamlet. They ordered the six buildings, made of turf and wood, to be torn down because they do not have planning permission.

Liz Terry, who lives in the village, said: "It is a very experimental project in its early stages." The 12 adults and 10 children are mainly vegetarian and live off the land growing their own crops.