Farmers from Cumbria and Scotland joined forces for the protest outside the Dairy Crest plant in Aspatria.

The protest, organised by the National Farmers Union (NFU), aims to highlight what producers see as a shortfall in the price the company pays for its milk.

The company says it is involved in talks with farmers over the issue and is trying to offer the best possible price for milk.

But a spokesman for the NFU said: "Milk producers have been producing milk for the last two years, in some cases well below the cost of production.

"They cannot continue to do that forever and they are now desperate to keep their businesses together.

"We are targeting Dairy Crest because they are the ones who have failed to act properly on this issue."

The NFU also claimed farmers are being hit by low prices offered for milk that is used in cheese production.