THE owners of an award-winning restaurant are bidding for a return to their agricultural roots.

While building up The Fisherman's Retreat in Ramsbottom, the Magnall family owned the nearby Twine Valley Farm.

Borough planners in Rossendale have been told while the farm building and beef herd were sold in 2010, the family had retained the majority of the land, an estimated 12.7 hectares or so.

Planning agent Jim Eccles said the herd had now been re-established, to supply the restaurant with dry aged beef.

The cattle have been housed in a nearby building but the Magnalls now wanted to erect a 30-metre long unit, on their own land, as a permanent arrangement.

Mr Eccles said: "The applicant is continuing to increase their cattle stock up to the 100 head of cattle that they had previously maintained up to 2010 at Twine Valley Farm."

An area of hardstanding would be created at the site, to the south of Riding Head Lane, as part of the plans.