FOLLOWING their support for the fight to save rural post offices, members of the Women's Institute are now focusing their attention on the crisis affecting Britain's farmers.

The organisation is launching the next phase of a concerted Supporting British Agriculture campaign, following on from a resolution passed at last year's TGM, aimed at politicians, the public and WI members.

In response to this, members of Boldron WI, near Barnard Castle will be circulating a leaflet in their village asking residents to support the campaign and the Buy British, Buy Local fortnight which takes place from September 11-24.

During the two weeks WIs will be encouraging people to think carefully about the food they buy. Lothersdale WI in North Yorkshire is organising a local food walk to show what is produced locally.

WI members have also been asked to sign a Farming is Everyone's Business postcard on behalf of their branch and send it to the prime minister before he puts the finishing touches to the forthcoming Rural White Paper.

The card stresses that farming and food production are essential to a nation's health as well as to the maintenance of thriving rural communities.

With the right policies and incentives it can provide safe and nutritious food for the population; a livelihood for many people anda habitat for wildlife.

It calls on the government to put food and farming at the heart of its rural policy and sustainable development strategy, and to take urgent action to ensure the survival of existing farmers and make farming a viable proposition.