MEMBERS of Dorset's agricultural community took their fight on behalf of struggling British dairy farmers direct to Poole's Asda supermarket.

The protest took place on Thursday evening, just as the supermarket giant announced it would increase the price it pays its milk supplier to "a level that will assist" farmers.

Fifty people, including many members of local young farmers organisations, bought up all of Asda's milk stock and handed it out to customers in the car park.

The protestors, who also brought two calves into the car park, told shoppers the shelves were being emptied because that will be the situation consumers face if dairy farmers are priced out of the industry.

It follows intensifying national action by diary and livestock farmers who say they are facing "financial devastation" because of falling lamb and milk prices.

Swanage dairy farmer Paul Dyer, who helped organise the Poole protest for the Wareham & Purbeck Young Farmers organisation, told the Daily Echo: "We emptied the milk stock from Asda, we had fliers stickers, leaflets. With every bottle of milk we gave away we tried to explain the situation. People were very supportive, we had a brilliant response - people couldn't understand why the supermarkets were charging so little."

Asda's announcement to commit to paying 28p a litre for 100 per cent of its liquid milk volume throughout its entire range came after farmers refused to rule out the possibility of continued protests against other supermarkets.

Describing Asda's announcement as "a start", Mr Dyer added: "Unless something more is done, it will come down to these mega dairies with two or three thousand cows being kept inside producing cheap milk. Small dairy farmers, the family farmers, cannot survive on the milk prices as they are."

Morrisons has already announced the premium from a new milk brand will go directly to the dairy industry.

An Asda spokesman said: "We have confirmed to our milk supplier, Arla, that we are increasing the price we pay per litre from Monday to a level that will assist our farmers during the current crisis.

"Asda's origins are in dairy farming which is why we are acting in the best interests of our farmers and our customers by increasing the price we pay, introducing the Farmer's Marque label and not passing on any of the costs to customers - our retail price stays the same."

NFU president, Meurig Raymond, said: "The NFU has been lobbying tirelessly for Asda to recognise the plight of the dairy industry so we are pleased that Asda has moved to support farmers in their hour of need.

"It is clear from Asda that this commitment is to support the UK dairy industry at a time of crisis.

"It is now important that Arla ensures this is delivered to British farmers on the ground, with immediate effect.

"This decision recognises that our dairy farmers need a fair price so consumers can ensure they have access to British dairy products now and in the future."

What you're saying

Bournemouth jeweller Amelia Norris said: "I would definitely pay more for milk to support British dairy farmers. Me and my husband were just talking about it this morning. I'd be happy to pay 20p more if it made a difference to them."

Holidaymaker Gary Lamb, aged 50, from Staffordshire, said: "My in-laws are both farmers and my brother-in-law is currently selling his farm, and one of the reasons is the milk price keeps getting cut. They cannot survive.

"My sister-in-law used to dairy farm, but she moved into solar power because it simply wasn't worth enough money to even break even."

Ron Holt, staying in Bournemouth, said: "I support our farmers and I'd be happy to pay more for milk if I knew it was going to British farmers. They are essentially small businesses and they need our support."

Patricia Linney, from Christchurch, said: "If you go into a supermarket today you don't even know if you're buying British milk, it could be from anywhere. I think the situation is disgraceful. I'd happily pay more for milk but British milk needs to be packaged so everyone knows it is British."