ANGRY farmers last night pledged to cause chaos across Britain on Monday in the biggest mass protest since the fuel crisis.

They plan to drive their tractors and trailers along roads at peak traffic times in a nationwide protest at the refusal of the Government to relax a 20-day restriction on the movement of cattle and sheep imposed during last year's foot-and-mouth crisis.

In the North, farmers have already formed action groups, which aim to bottleneck traffic on busy roads.

The action day was sparked after farmers, including some from County Durham, Northumberland, Cumbria and North Yorkshire, met Agriculture Minister Lord Whitty at the Sheep 2002 exhibition at Malvern, near Worcester, last week.

They pleaded unsuccessfully with the minister to relax the 20-day ban, which they said was crippling the industry.

Weardale farmer Herbert Hutchinson said last night it was expected that about 20 farmers in the dale would be driving their tractors and trailers along the busy A689 on Monday morning.

"We are facing an impossible situation," he said. "Already some farmers have gone out of business because of this ridiculous restriction - and more are sure to follow if it goes on."

Farmers from Teesdale, North Yorkshire and Cumbria are also expected to take part in the day of protest.

A hardcore of farmers, who say they wish to remain anonymous "for many good reasons", say in a circular: "Do not allow this Government to destroy one of the greatest livestock industries in the world."

However, the National Farmers Union is not supporting the action, fearing it may alienate the public.

A spokeswoman for the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) said: "We understand the economic needs of farmers and are trying to get some sort of compromise.

"A range of exemptions, including for rams and bulls, is currently being assessed and Defra expects to make an announcement within the next week."

The region's police forces are adopting a "wait and see" policy on the protest.