UK Prime Minister Tony Blair has condemned France as "completely and totally wrong" for refusing to lift the ban on British beef.

Speaking as he prepared to leave for the European Union summit in Helsinki - now likely to be overshadowed by the beef row - Mr Blair said France would "suffer the consequences" of its decision.

"It is not just contrary to the science which shows that British beef is not just safe, but is probably some of the safest beef anywhere in the world today.

"You can't just have a situation where you can pick and choose what laws or rules of the European market you obey."

The PM's tough talking came after France was given a 10-day ultimatum to end the illegal embargo - or face the courts.

France has refused to comply with an European Commission ruling that the meat is safe, saying the risk of mad cow disease has not been completely eradicated.

EU Food Safety Commissioner David Byrne said the European Commission was likely to take the next legal steps against the French at a meeting in Strasbourg next Tuesday.

France would then have five days to respond to the next stage of the legal proceedings.

"Immediately after that, if the embargo isn't lifted then we are straight into court," said Mr Byrne.

Big fine possible

Legal moves against France were begun by the Commission three weeks ago. Pursuing the case through the courts could take up to a year and a half and would leave France facing a substantial fine, estimated at up to £100,000 a day, if it was found to be in breach of EU law.

Mr Blair will raise the beef ban when he meets French Prime Minister Lionel Jospin at the Helsinki summit.

But Mr Jospin has defended his action, saying: "Today, in all honesty, before the French people, it was not possible for this government to lift the embargo."

He added: "I am not worried. I am first and foremost accountable to French people for what I do."

In a statement to Parliament, UK Agriculture Minister Nick Brown said the French action was astonishing.

Mr Brown told MPs: "Her Majesty's Government are surprised and deeply disappointed that the French have chosen to take this position.

"It comes after many weeks of intensive talks in which we received the impression we had answered all the questions and met all the concerns from the French side."

He continued: "British beef is a safe as beef from anywhere else in Europe, that is not just my view that is the unanimous view of the commission's senior scientific advisors.

"I can understand the frustration felt more widely around the country. The French action is astonishing. They have delivered a blow to the credibility of European law."

Mr Brown defended the government's tactics of engaging in discussion with the French over the issue.

But Tory agriculture spokesman Tim Yeo blamed the government for being "weak and incompetent".

Reaction to the continuation of the ban has included Asda supermarket announcing it would switch from French to British suppliers for one variety of potato.

National Farmers' Union president Ben Gill has asked consumers to send a message to the French government through their shopping decisions.

He has also questioned France's membership of the European Union, saying: "I do not possibly see how France can continue to act like this and remain within the European Union. This is a real crisis for Europe, and something must be done.

"Do they want to be part of a club, and a single market, or do they just want to go on their own way?"

British Labour and Conservative MEPs will mark their opposition to the French ban by boycotting next week's official opening of the European Parliament in Strasbourg by French President Jacques Chirac.

France is not the only EU member facing legal action, as Germany could also face the courts if a meeting of its parliament on 17 December fails to lift its ban on British beef.

Germany has so far been awaiting the outcome of the Anglo-French beef talks before deciding whether to lift the ban itself.