 The blockades were the latest in a series of protests |
Scottish dairy farmers have attempted to stop supplies getting to supermarkets in a demonstration over the price they receive for milk. As protests took place outside three milk depots in Lanarkshire and West Lothian, processors insisted they pay a fair price for milk.
Farmers said they wanted to stop milk getting to Tesco, Morrisons, Sainsbury's and Asda stores.
The move followed similar blockades two weeks ago which targeted eight sites.
Farmers picketed Robert Wiseman's in East Whitburn and Cambuslang and Arla Food's plant at Coatbridge.
Campaign group Farmers for Action estimated that more than 100 protesters had assembled at Cambuslang, 60 at Arla's plant at Coatbridge and 35 at East Whitburn.
The protest began at about 0200 BST on Thursday, however deliveries to schools and hospitals were allowed through.
According to the National Farmers Union (NFU), one in four Scottish dairy farmers has gone out of business over the last six years.
It said that those remaining were being paid between 16p and 20p per litre. Farmers claimed that this was less than 10 years ago.
 |  It has caused minimal disruption and we are making all deliveries to all our customers |
NFU Scotland president John Kinnaird said: "The big four supermarkets make between �32m and �80m each on milk sales alone every year.
"At the same time, farmers lose money on every litre they sell.
He added that the relationship between farmers, supermarkets and processors had reached such a low that family businesses felt they had no choice but to take to the streets.
A spokesman for Robert Wiseman Dairies said: "There has been disruption overnight, and some deliveries are late as a result, but we would hope to meet all our obligations to customers."
 Retailers say price competition benefits shoppers |
An Arla Foods spokeswoman said: "The protesters have now dispersed and we are carrying on with our everyday business.
"I think it is fair to say it has caused minimal disruption and we are making all deliveries to all our customers."
The UK retail average price for milk was about 52p a litre last year, according to the Milk Development Council.
The average UK milk price received by the farmer was 18.5p.
Wiseman Dairies announced on Wednesday that it was cutting the price it pays for milk to 19.76p per litre, but claimed it still paid the best rate in Britain.
The Scottish National Party warned against squeezing small local producers out of the market.
Highlands and Islands MSP Rob Gibson said: "The questions remain - what percentage of the milk sold in Scottish stores is produced in Scotland and how many dairy farmers is the Scottish Executive willing to see go to the wall before it acts to help these businesses survive?"
'Work together'
The Scottish Green Party also called on ministers to respond to the "crisis" facing dairy farmers.
Enterprise spokeswoman, and former farmer, Shiona Baird said: "The Lib Dem rural environment minister Ross Finnie has done next to nothing to help Scottish farmers.
"Greens have pushed him for a response following the recent OFT decision to not change the ineffectual supermarkets code of practice to help curb unfair trade - yet we have had nothing but silence from him so far."
A Scottish Executive spokeswoman said ministers recognised the position of dairy farmers concerned about raw milk prices.
She said: "While it is not the role of government to become involved in the operation of the milk market, ministers would encourage all parts of the dairy supply chain to work together to secure the long-term future of the industry."
The spokeswoman added that Mr Finnie, and his department, regularly met with major retailers.
She added: "We shall continue to emphasise how seriously the executive views the importance of maintaining a sustainable food chain with healthy trading relationships between suppliers and retailers.
"We shall therefore be discussing with OFT the report's conclusions and the way forward."
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