Charity bosses said they needed to take a “deep breath” before deciding what to do with land which has been returned to them after more than 30 years.

The National Trust of Guernsey said it had secured land at Crève Coeur on the island’s north coast.

A five-year lease started in September 1995 to allow the States of Guernsey to use fields owned by the trust as an emergency landfill, but despite this not being extended, talks to return the area to the charity came up against several issues.