AN ANGUS woman, who is expecting to be forced to leave the only home she knows next week, says that she is determined to put the past behind her and get on with her life.

Fiona Stewart (44) has lived at the 226-acre Wellbank Farm all her life but, following a dispute that has dragged on for years, she has been told that she must leave her home by next Monday.

Cancer Research UK and Ms Stewart’s cousin were each left third shares in the farm, which is in the process of being sold to an Angus consortium, reportedly for around £800,000.

Following years of unsuccessful negotiations with Ms Stewart, they obtained an order from the Court of Session for her eviction.

She was granted a brief stay of execution and agreed to move out a fortnight before the new owners took possession.

She said last night that she believed it unlikely that the entry date of January 15 could be met.

Nevertheless, she has been told to leave by January 5, though she is hoping that she will be granted an extra three days as the New Year holiday could make it difficult for her to arrange accommodation with the local authority’s homeless unit in time for the earlier date.

Ms Stewart’s brother and sister-in-law also live on the farm and they will also be made homeless.

Cancer Research UK, which has been widely criticised for taking legal action to evict Ms Stewart, has always maintained that it was left with no choice after years of fruitless negotiations.

Speaking from the farm last night, Ms Stewart said she was disappointed her bid for the farm had been unsuccessful but that she accepted she would have to leave her home.

“I think I have been presented as some kind of ogre who is not going to move and that is not the case,” she said.

“It is a new year and a new beginning so let’s get on with it. That’s my attitude to life.”

Ms Stewart and her brother remain uncertain as to when they will receive their share of the proceeds from the sale of the farm.