Feline-loving Coronation Street star Katie McGlynn has backed the owners of a cattery on a historic Bolton farm in their bid to avoid eviction. Earls Farm off Stitch Mi Lane in Harwood has been in David Yates' family for 300 years.
David, 65, and his wife Karen are currently locked in a legal battle with landowner Bolton council, which has issued them with an eviction order. The couple run a number of businesses from the farm, including a cattery for a total of 84 cats and an innovative manufacturing hub for making barley straw which kills green algae.
They also run a facility for Men in Sheds - the men's mental health charity - and Karen has a beauty and nail treatment business there also. But they could soon be forced out of their homes and off the land next to St Catherin's Academy school by the eviction order, which they will contest in the civil courts in Manchester at the end of September.
"Our cattery now is full most of the time," said Karen, 54. "For us to have to move out of here would be devastating for David as his family have farmed this land for 300 years." She said the couple recently held a farmers market at Earls Farm and invited Katie McGlynn, who played Sinead Tinker in Coronation Street between 2013 and 2020.
Former Corrie actor and singer Scott Wright also performed at the event. Karen explained: "I invited Katie because I knew she lived locally and loved cats. She is currently in process of moving from a home where she wasn't allowed to keep cats to one where she can.
"She was visibly shocked at our situation; she thought it was 'terrible' and she wished us all the best with everything.NShe was very genuine and empathic and gave me big hugs."
A spokesperson for Bolton council has previously said: "We are unable to comment due to ongoing legal proceedings.”
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