One pylon marks the spot

A field in North Lincolnshire is the most featureless part of the UK, according to a new Ordnance Survey (OS) map.

The square kilometre on the outskirts of the village of Ousefleet, near Scunthorpe, has nothing in it except a single electricity pylon and some overhanging cable.

Grid reference SE830220 on map 112 is as near as cartographers can find to a completely blank square among the 320,000 in the widely-used Landranger map series.

The plot of farmland was identified after OS experts used computers to trawl through the 204 maps.

If people want to come and look at a field, I don't mind, but they're wasting their petrol

Avril Ella, farmer

The quest to find Britain's most boring place was set by a listener to John Peel's "Home Truths" show on BBC Radio 4.

Philip Round from the OS said: "We're not saying it's the dullest place in Britain.

"It might be the most fascinating place on earth but on our Landranger maps it has the least amount of information.

"No ditches, streams or buildings in it are shown on this particular scale of map.

"That's quite some going, considering the low-lying areas of East Anglia and remote parts of Scotland."

'Friendly community'

The land has been farmed by the Ella family for over 100 years.

Tom and Avril, both in their 50s, grow wheat, barley and sugar beat on it.

"It's a lovely place to live," Mrs Ella said.

"It's a small, friendly community with a lovely church nearby."

But the family is not impressed by the thought that map enthusiasts may soon be flocking to the location.

"If people want to come and look at a field, I don't mind, but they're wasting their petrol."

The OS have warned that the field's claim to fame could be threatened by more detailed maps of the same area.

"Drainage ditches or dykes might be shown up," said Mr Round.