Television presenter Jeremy Clarkson has been ordered to reopen a footpath through his property after a public inquiry on the Isle of Man.

The BBC Top Gear presenter sparked protests from ramblers when he diverted a path on land at his holiday home, a lighthouse on the Langness peninsula.

He claims there had never been any rights of way across the land.

But a public inquiry concluded he interfered with a right of way and he must now reinstate the path.

Mr Clarkson has 28 days to appeal against the ruling.

Health Minister David Anderson MHK, who was acting transport minister at the time the inquiry began, said anyone was able to object to the report's findings.

He said: "If any objections are received, and are not subsequently withdrawn, the matter has to be brought to the High Court for resolution."

'Horrible experiences'

Mr Anderson said the inquiry inspector, Roy Hickey, said "strong and persuasive evidence" had been put forward by members of the public that they had the right to use the paths on Langness.

He said that all of the paths on Langness, apart from five, should be dedicated as public rights of way.

The five paths that may remain private include three leading from the lighthouse to the shore south and south east of the lighthouse, a fourth running across the peninsula and a fifth crossing the golf course.

Jeremy Clarkson's home in Langness
Anyone can object to the decision within 28 days

Mr Clarkson's wife, Frances Cain, said the family had received unwanted attention from passers-by and put a fence up to protect their privacy.

"This is the place that I brought my family, my husband and my children, with such a happy heart, and we've had such horrible experiences," she said.

However, the report's outcome was welcomed by Rushen MHKs Juan Watterson, Quintin Gill and Phil Gawne.

All three MHKs said in a joint statement that they felt it was a "victory for common sense".

They said: "Whilst not condoning the actions of some of the more militant campaigners who used dogs to deliberately distress wildlife or impose on the privacy of the landowners, the MHKs did feel that this was a victory for common sense and people power."

Mr Gill said he was "delighted" at the outcome.

"This has been an issue I have campaigned on for almost five years," he said.

"I am delighted that Mr Hickey has determined that rights of way have been established over the Langness peninsula."

Now all they need to do is a put a bus lane adjacent to the footpath.

The dispute broke out in 2005 when Clarkson closed a 250 yard stretch of the path on his land and diverted it around his multi-million pound lighthouse home on the windswept Langness peninsula on the Isle of Man.

Although not legally a public footpath, campaigners claim that historically the landowner had granted 'permissive rights' to walkers.
But the move caused outage among residents and walkers who say the ancient path had been used for generations and should be designated as an established right of way.

Now after a four-year wrangle the dispute has finally come to a head at a public inqury which will rule on who is in the right.
But Clarkson, 49, has warned he will sell up if the hearing decides that the footpath should be open to everyone.
Clarkson has said: 'The whole point of buying a house on the end of a peninsula is so that you get five minutes not being bothered. When you are in the public eye it's very easy to be portrayed as a villain. Actually, in this case, I'm not.'
The broadcaster's wife Frances Clarkson told the inquiry that walkers on the peninsula are abusive to members of her family at least twice a week.

It seems that if a route has been used for "years" then people automagically have the right to use it forever. Interesting!!