FORMER Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond has submitted another planning application for his Herefordshire castle.

Herefordshire Council recently approved plans for Mr Hammond to refurbish one of the barns at Bollitree Castle in Weston-under-Penyard, near Ross-on-Wye, to host guests.

Mr Hammond, who has owned and lived at Bollitree Castle with his wife Mandy since 2008, has also applied to replace a second barn so he can build a new one to house his collection of cars.

But now Mr Hammond, who is now presenting The Grand Tour on Amazon Prime with Jeremy Clarkson and James May, has asked Herefordshire Council if he can put in a new farm entrance and close up the existing one.

A planning statement said the current entrance, off the road between Weston-under-Penyard and Bromsash, is in the corner of a field and is restricted by the wall of the property known as Whitehall Lodge.

"The pathway also leads round a veteran oak tree and this new route avoids the tree thereby reducing the potential for damage to the tree," it added.

"The proposed entrance sits in a natural cutting in the embankment and so required minimum alteration to existing levels.

"There is a roadside hedge that is predominantly make up of dead elms and brambles. The proposal includes a comprehensive landscape plan to gap up the existing hedge and plant new hedging and trees."

The statement added the new track was essential to allow vehicles to safely enter and exit the property, for the efficient operation of the farm, to reduce the risk of damage to Whitehall Lodge and the veteran oak tree.

The proposed access will accommodate existing farm traffic and no new activities are planned. There should therefore be no increase in vehicle movements.