SUGAR beet farmers in Worcestershire have been given a valuable boost in their campaign for fair rules with the backing of MP Peter Luff.

Mr Luff visited sugar beet farmers John and Philip Sanders in Ombersley to support them and others in their efforts to secure a reasonable renegotiation of the European sugar regime, which is due to be renewed later this year.

Critics of the current regime want to see Europe open its doors to imports from developing countries, but British sugar producers are concerned that full liberalisation would raze the industry to the ground.

"We all accept that the regime needs to change," said Mr Luff.

"But local farmers are very anxious that the Government will agree to changes in the European regime that discriminate against them.

"If we get this reform wrong, we will put British and Caribbean farmers out of work and do great harm to the environment.

"If the Government doesn't negotiate toughly in British interests, it will be British farmers and birdlife that suffer, African and Caribbean producers who go the wall - and the rainforests of Brazil will take another hammering as more land is cleared to produce sugar there instead."