SAINSBURY'S, Asda and a number of major dairies were recently fined £116m for price-fixing milk, cheese and butter (Echo, Dec 6).

The hard-handed approach by supermarkets to dairy farmers has resulted in more than half of them calling it a day in the past 20 years.

No doubt the fines will go into the Government coffers, but what a good idea it would be to give it to farmers who want to return to their trade. Or even give a voucher to all families who have paid over the odds for their pinta. We need to encourage a dairy industry.

Eric Schofield, Crook, Co Durham.