Wiltshire crop circle brings hundreds to farm

Farmer Shelley Klindt has brought in a cherry picker (pictured left) so visitors can get a good view without damaging crops

A farmer says she has been inundated by 400 visitors, helicopters and drones since a crop circle appeared in her field.

Shelley Klindt, who farms near Hannington, Wiltshire, said the 60m (200ft) circle appeared overnight on 2 August.

Despite "trying to keep it quiet", Ms Klindt said online drone footage had attracted hundreds of people.

A cherry picker is in place so visitors can view it without damaging crops.

Ms Klindt said the giant formation in a field of mature wheat near Highworth is the first she has had on her land.

She said she had had visitors from all over the world since its appearance.

"We've had helicopters, low-flying aircraft and so many drones," she said.

"On Saturday we had about 130 people and eight or nine people were there camping out in the middle of the circle to watch the Perseid meteor shower.

"And this morning I got a call at 4:30am to say there was a van with 'love' on it and a man with a magical cape dancing around with incense sticks."

The formation is due to disappear on Friday when the crop of wheat is harvested

Creating crop circles is a criminal offence and farmers in the county have been urged by the police to report any on their land.

But Ms Klindt said although it is "annoying", she has been allowing people into the field to see it.

"It's about 60m wide which means we've lost about eight tonnes of grain," she said.

"So we're asking for a £2 donation to cover the loss of the crop and we're also charging for people to go up in the cherry picker.

"But on Friday it will be gone when we harvest and the headache will be over."