FARMERS from across East Lancashire lobbied outside Blackburn Town Hall with the message that falling milk prices could cripple the dairy industry.

The march, Fair Share of the Bottle, was organised by the National Farmers' Union, who highlighted the plight of farmers receiving less than nine pence per pint of milk by driving a customised tractor with a large cow on the front and a float bearing a huge milk bottle into the town centre.

Farmers John Wallbank and Ray Seedall, who run a farm together in Mellor, said the decreasing price was leaving them almost bankrupt.

Mr Seedall said: "It's been a struggle for nearly two years and we are on our last legs."

He went on to say that they currently received about nine pence a pint whereas it was being sold for up to 38 pence.

New legislation to cut the price paid to farmers by a further one or two pence per litre was proposed for April.

"The people in the middle are taking too much and the strong pound does not help.

"We want supermarkets and the general public to appreciate how much we are struggling for how much we are getting out of it and for some of these imbalances to be addressed," he said.

Mr Seedall said that the dairy industry needed investment, but with the falling price of milk it was difficult to meet hygiene standard and modernise equipment. "We are struggling to break even. It's going to cripple the industry if it carries on. It just doesn't make sense," he added.

Leaflets and dairy products were presented to the Rural Dean of Blackburn with Darwen, the Rev Kevin Arkell, who said: "I am here to show the concerns of Christians throughout Lancashire for the problems faced by our farmers and the rural communities.

"I am also here to underline at local level the national call for increased help for farming communities which the General Synod of the Church of England passed unanimously in London last week.

"That included a summons for a stronger commitment by both Church and Government to support the agricultural communities. I hope that being here today assures our Lancashire farmers that the Blackburn Diocese is already answering that summons.

"This is a timely and important rally as the farmers bring to town anxieties which affect a significant part of our national life, and potentially the future of the British countryside."

The Fair Share of the Bottle campaign started in Carlisle last week and will continue across the North West before arriving in London on March 15.

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