Farmers stage blockades outside supermarket depots

Farmers have staged blockades outside supermarket distribution centres in protest over rising costs and concerns about foreign food imports.

The demonstration saw farmers park outside two Sainsbury's depots in Northampton on Friday morning.

A Sainsbury's spokesperson said: "A group of farmers carried out protests at our Northampton and Pineham depots earlier today, and we have worked hard to minimise the impact of this action on our customers."

Philip Weston, a farmer from Hartwell, Northamptonshire, who has been involved in weekly blockades this year, previously said the protests were intended to "bring about a realisation that trade deals don't take into account British farmers".

The Sainsbury's spokesperson said: "We work with 18,000 farmers across the country – selling hundreds of 100% British products in store – and offer both long-term partnerships and cost of production models to support a fair, resilient and sustainable UK agriculture sector."

A Defra spokeswoman added: "We're backing British farmers as part of a new era of partnership to create a productive, profitable and sustainable future for farming.

"More than half of farmers are in our farming schemes, benefiting from £11.8bn across this Parliament."

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