AROUND 70 East Lancashire farmers picketed a pie factory today in a dawn protest over the use of imported beef.

The demonstration started at Holland's Pies, Baxenden, at about 3am and protesters dispersed peacefully shortly before 7am.

The farmers said they had stopped pie wagons leaving the factory and meat wagons going in.

Managing director Graham March agreed to meet with a five-strong delegation of farmers inside the factory.

Oswaldtwistle farmer Wilf Rhodes said: "Farmers are being brought to their knees and it's time to make the public realise we are struggling to survive. We have the safest beef in the world.

"We were assured they were using 60 per cent British beef and only bringing in about 35 to 40 per cent from abroad.

"We want assuring the beef they are bringing in comes up to the standards we are being made to keep."

No-one was available for comment at Holland's but the company said it would be releasing a statement today.

Police said the demonstration had been peaceful and passed off without incident.

A spokesman for Holland's said the company remained totally confident with the quality of British beef, although it does use some meat imported from South America.

A spokesperson added: "The policy of using a low percentage of imported beef has been in place for many years as indeed has Holland's policy to use only steer beef less than 30 months old from whichever source the beef is purchased.

"All beef plants that supply Holland's are EU approved and audited by the technical team of Holland's parent company, Northern Foods PLC."

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