ANGRY dairy farmers could escalate their long-running protest over the price of milk.

In an effort to get a better deal for their product, they have been holding short blockades of dairies up and down the country.

Recent targets included Whitby, in North Yorkshire, and, earlier this week, protestors gathered at Express Dairies, in Northallerton, North Yorkshire, to press their case.

Pressure group Farmers for Action plans to begin talks this weekend that could lead to even more national blockades, potentially disrupting supplies.

The farmers are angry at the price they receive for milk - about 17p a litre - and fear some could be forced out of the industry unless they get a better deal. The milk costs about 20p a litre to produce.

"It is cheaper than buying bottled water and farmers simply can't survive with those sort of prices," said Farmers for Action secretary Marilyn Handley yesterday.

"There are many dairy farmers going out of business already and the numbers will increase unless they can earn a living."

Tim Gibson, who farms at Crakehall, North Yorkshire, said: "We are actively trying to disrupt because we want to make an impact and this is the best way of doing it."

The National Farmers' Union (NFU) is supporting the dairy producers' demands for an immediate rise of at least 2p a litre, with another 2p rise to follow.

However, the NFU does believe progress is being made in the battle and said the key was in the cheese sector, where there has been a recent movement in prices.

The union's national milk chairman, Terrig Morgan, said: "This movement is a recognition of the fact that prices had to go up as demanded by the market fundamentals. However, this must be converted into real money in farmers' pockets."