Farmers block Lidl site with tractor barricade

A group of farmers have used their tractors to form a barricade blocking access to a Lidl distribution site to protest for fairer food prices.

About 15 demonstrators gathered outside the retailer's distribution centre in Toddington, Bedfordshire, near Houghton Regis and junction 11a of the M1.

John Sanderson, a beef and arable farmer, said similar demonstrations were taking place in Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, and his home county of Northamptonshire.

Lidl has been contacted for comment.

"What we're getting with the outgoings for fertiliser, fuel and everything else - it just doesn't stack up," Sanderson said.

Bedfordshire Police said it was called to the site at about 05:30 GMT and was managing traffic that was built up.

Sanderson added that British farmers were required to meet standards higher than those applied to many imported products.

He said he hoped the protests would encourage supermarkets and the government to "get their heads together and find a way of solving this problem, farmers just can't carry on."

The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs have been approached for comment.

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