Hundreds of Welsh farmers have staged a series of protests as part of their campaign against foreign beef imports.

As more than 400 farmers blocked meat distribution centres in south Wales, scores demonstrated outside an RAF base on Angelsey to urge the armed forces to buy British beef.

But the demonstrators said they were disappointed with the response from the RAF.

"We have had a very poor reception from the RAF we wanted to see the station commander but he refused to see us," said Welsh farmer's spokesman Peter Roger.

"At the moment they are buying beef from the Argentinians and they have told us that it is their policy to purchase meat at the most competitive prices.

"We think that RAF bases and the armed forces are legitimate targets without any doubt there will be more protests like this."

A similar demonstration was staged at RAF Ternhill in Shropshire where up to 100 farmers gathered.

The Ministry of Defence defended its purchase of foreign beef.

"Our policy on the purchase of meat and all other food products is based on value for money," said a MOD spokesman.

"Whilst the Ministry of Defence does not specify the source of origin, we do require that full consideration is given to British food products.

"We will continue to buy British food products wherever they are competitively priced," he said.

British farmers started their protests against cheap meat imports on a large scale in North Wales last December.

The demonstrations began at Holyhead docks on Anglesey and have spread across Britain's ports and to supermarkets, restaurants and distribution centres.
 

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