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THOUSANDS of farmers, including many in the region, have still not received their single farm payment for last year.

According to the Rural Payments Agency (RPA), about 9,000 farmers in England are owed a total of £190m.

Farming organisations say those waiting are suffering severe hardship and have demanded swift action.

The RPA said 97,809 farmers, nearly 92 per cent of the 106,700 claimants, have been paid £1.26bn - about 86 per cent of the estimated total of £1.45bn.

Annabelle Morshead, North- East chairman of the Country Land and Business Association (CLA), is still waiting for her payment.

She said: "I find it completely unacceptable that we are going through this again.

"It is causing huge problems, coming on the back of an appalling spring, rising prices and the aftermath of draconian foot and mouth restrictions."

A spokeswoman for the North- East National Farmers' Union (NFU) said some farmers had been told they would not be paid until November.

George Allison, who farms at Chopgate, near Stokesley, North Yorkshire, said: "We have not had a penny, yet farmers in Wales, Scotland and Ireland received theirs in December."

Mr Allison only received his 2005-06 payment in December last year, has not received any of his 2006-07 payment, but has to submit his 2007-08 claim by next Wednesday.

The RPA said each claim has to be checked and validated, but admitted some delays were due to errors made in previous years.

8:40am Thursday 8th May 2008

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