A FAMOUS Dartmoor landmark is to star in a new TV show, sparked by the long-running battle over access to its distinctive granite rocks. Vixen Tor, known as the Sphynx of Dartmoor, has long been popular with walkers and climbers. But when the tor was bought in 2003 by new owner Mary Alford, she closed the land to the public, concerned she could be held liable if someone injured themselves on the rocks. The decision angered those used to unhindered access to the popular beauty spot, which has been the scene of several mass trespasses. Mrs Alford recently refused an offer of £1,500 by Dartmoor National Park Authority to open up the tor and the situation has reached an impasse. Now, the former British United Nations Commander in Bosnia, Bob Stewart, has stepped in in his role as Channel 5?s The Negotiator. Mrs Alford and the Tavistock-based founder of the Vixen Tor Access Group, Jim Harrison, will now star in a programme to be broadcast later this year. Jim, a charge nurse in the intensive care department at Derriford Hospital, said: ?He had me and Mary sitting down round the table, getting into a dialogue, which was always going to be difficult. ?Basically Mary and I have signed an agreement on how we would take the process forward. I have personally agreed not to trespass for the time being and to work with the Park to try and find a resolution.? Jim said the first step forward is a one-off, open family day on the tor, to be held at the end of July. The event, costing £5 per head, will raise money for Devon Air Ambulance and the Farmers in Crisis organisation. Climbers will be able to scale the tor for a £10 fee, which will be donated to the two charities. The whole day will be filmed, to provide the closing scenes of the Vixen Tor programme of The Negotiator. Insurance for the day is being footed by the production company. Jim, 42, said he was impressed by Bob Stewart?s efforts during filming. ?He?s a lovely guy, a really top bloke. They interviewed the British Mountaineering Council, Mary and me, the Vixen Tor Access Group, and they filmed the negotiations between me and Mary. She invited me to spend a day working on the farm, so they filmed that ? although there was no reciprocal arrangement ? she didn?t do any nursing. ?They got me branding sheep and doing up fleeces ? I think they expected a nurse from London wouldn?t be able to hack it, but I?d been on farms when I was younger and I just kept going. In the end she was smiling ? I think work is a great leveller.? Jim said while the experience has not produced a definite solution, there was at least dialogue between the opposing sides. ?I think it?s a definite step forward ? there?s a bit of entente cordiale now,? he said. Mrs Alford said the broadcast experience had been ?interesting?. ?Basically I did the programme because I wanted to tell the whole story ? it?s about the landowner telling the story and the lawbreaker putting his point of view. We?ll just have to see if these trespassers will then understand the situation and abide by the law,? said Mrs Alford. She said it would also be interesting to see if people who wanted access to Vixen Tor were also prepared to support a charity by coming to the tor on the open day. Alex Scott of the production company Murfia said: ?We are very pleased with the way the filming went. I think it was a difficult situation for them and feelings ran high, but I think Col Bob has managed to move the situation forward, which is the aim of the programme.? The Negotiator is due to be broadcast in September. The Vixen Tor open day is due to take place on July 30 ? more details are due to be announced shortly.