MICHAEL Howard, leader of the Conservative party took time out from the party's spring conference in Harrogate on Saturday to meet local farmers.

Ten producers from the arable, poultry, beef, pig and dairy industries were at the hour-long meeting at Allerton Grange Farm, Knaresborough, the home of arable, sheep and pig farmer, Alan Armstrong.

Top of the agenda was the Government's recent reform of the CAP.

"He said he understood the complaints and had heard most of them before, because he had farmers in his constituency," said Mr Armstrong. "It was very good of him to give his time and was just a really relaxed, informal meeting.

"We chatted about a variety of different points, including the new subsidy scheme that is going to set England apart from all the world."

The visit was arranged by Anne McIntosh, MP for the Vale of York, who said: "This was an excellent opportunity for Michael to see a local farm at first hand and to hear something of the problems faced by farmers in the Vale of York.