'Starving' farmers given vouchers

Farmers have already taken their protest to parliament

Farmers devastated by the foot-and-mouth crisis are being given supermarket vouchers to feed their families.

The handouts - ranging from £20 upwards - have been issued to hundreds of farmers still waiting for Government compensation.

Vouchers totalling almost £250,000, have been distributed by the Royal Scottish Agricultural Benevolent Institute.

Most have gone to farmers in the Borders and Dumfries and Galloway.

There are some people who are starving because of the crisis - it really is that bad.

A spokeswoman for the Royal Scottish Agricultural Benevolent Institute

The Edinburgh-based institute, which operates a 24 hour helpline for farmers affected by the crisis, receives up to 5O calls a day requesting financial and emotional support.

It claims some farmers and their families are close to starving as they wait for compensation payments.

Cases are decided on merit but the emergency vouchers range from £20 upwards and can be redeemed in several major supermarket chains.

A spokeswoman said: "So many farmers are waiting for compensation and they don't have any money in the meantime and this is to relieve some of the hardship.

"There are some people who are starving because of the crisis - it really is that bad.

"Every case is decided on their merits but the payments range from £20 upwards."

The emergency vouchers are for supermarkets Tesco, Safeway and the Co-op.