THE leader of the Conservatives, Michael Howard, took time out from the party's spring conference at the weekend to meet farmers from North Yorkshire.

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

Top of the agenda was the Government's recent reforms to the Common Agricultural Policy.

Mr Armstrong said: "He said he understood the complaints and had heard most of them before because he had farmers in his constituency.

"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."

Mr Howard was already in North Yorkshire for the Conservative Party Spring Conference, which finished last night at the Harrogate International Centre.

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