YORKSHIRE farmers joined 6,000 farmers from Holland, France, Germany, Poland and Norway as well as the UK at a major rally in Brussels to save the UK sugar industry.

Last week's demonstration, organised by CIBE, the European sugar producers' organisation, coincided with the first meeting of the Council of Agriculture Ministers, chaired by Margaret Beckett, Defra Secretary of State.

Ian Backhouse, a Goole grower and a representative on the NFU Council, said the proposals for reforming the European sugar regime being discussed at the meeting would compromise the competitiveness of UK sugar production.

"We accept that reform is needed but the proposals do not represent a fair solution for anyone - and that includes the developing countries of the Caribbean, parts of Africa and the Pacific region," he said.

He pointed out that, in Yorkshire alone, the sugar beet industry supported about 1,600 farmers, plus 1,500 jobs in associated sectors such as haulage.

Mr Backhouse was part of a delegation that met European Commissioner Mariann Fischer Boel. "We stressed that there are no winners with the current proposals," he said.

David Hugill, vice-chairman of the North Riding and Durham County NFU, also attended the rally.