Farmers fear hopes of a bright outlook for their crops are devastated

Torrential rain has already ruined some fields and the National Farmers' Union of Scotland (NFUS) is warning that time is running out to save the rest.

Downpours over the past fortnight have prevented farmers getting onto their land and bringing the crops in.

Much of the oil seed rape crop has already failed and farmers are now hoping to save their wheat and barley.

Many fields have been flattened by the summer deluges and in others the grain is ready but the machines cannot get to them.

We are now looking at complete crops losses in some cases John Kinnaird National Farmers' Union of Scotland

Sandy Allison, of Turnhouse Farm, near Edinburgh, said: "From now onwards we need two or three weeks of unbroken sunshine to salvage what we've got left of our wheat and barley.

"If it doesn't happen, we are we are personally looking at very easily a six-figure loss."

NFUS President John Kinnaird said: "This is such an important time of year for cereal farmers. A week or 10 days ago the harvest was salvageable.

"But with the amount of rain there's been in the last 48 hours, we are now looking at complete crops losses in some cases and that is extremely serious."

The pea harvest is also expected to be badly hit, with predictions it could be twenty percent short of the target.

Several farmers in eastern England told the BBC's Farming Today parts of some crops would have to be abandoned because they were so wet.