Factories at Wissington, Bury and Cantley are working flat out

Factories at Cantley in Norfolk, Bury in Suffolk and Wissington in Cambs will now work flat out until February in a huge operation called the "campaign".

However, in future growers and processors will be paid differently and support funding is to be withdrawn.

An EC spokesman said reform of payments to farmers for growing sugar is being made to increase competitiveness.

The Bury and Wissington plants already report that first deliveries of beet look promising.

Mark Culloden, agriculture manager for British Sugar, said: "The crop's looking very good because we have enjoyed some ideal weather for beet growing.