A Cullingworth farmer has demanded that local supermarkets stop selling French products in retaliation for the country's ban on British beef.

Anne Thompson, of Manor Farm, has called on housewives to support British farmers by not buying anything French. She is echoing protests around the country from shoppers up to agriculture minister Nick Brown about the French refusal to allow British beef imports.

Supermarket chain Budgens yesterday banned French apples and pears and Tesco reported a huge drop in the sales of French goods.

Mrs Thompson's main target is Bradford-based supermarket chain Morrisons which sometimes sells French pork in its Keighley store.

Mrs Thompson says: "Isn't it time people like Mr Morrison, who is supposed to be a local lad who has done well, supported us and stopped selling French produce?

"The British farmer is having a really bad time at the moment - prices in the markets have fallen to rock bottom and lots of farmers are losing money.

"They are struggling to keep their heads above water and lots have fallen by the wayside."

A spokesman for Morrisons says the vast majority of fresh pig meat bought by the supermarket is British.

"Our general policy is that when the quality, quantity and value is there we will always source British first."

At least 85 per cent of pork on Morrison's shelves is British, with pork loin occasionally coming from France when demand outstrips supply from British farmers.

A spokesman for Sainsburys, which has a store in Keighley, says the firm has not made any moves to ban French produce.

He adds: "We have a very good record of supporting British farmers and buying British. More than 95 per cent of our beef is British and 100 per cent of our lamb."

Keighley butcher Michael Ward, a regional official with the National Federation of Meat and Food Traders, says local butchers try to support local farmers.

He says: "I don't sell anything from France. We sell all local produce - beef, lamb and pork - as many other local butchers do.

"We hope the British government will fulfil its promise to lift the stupid beef-on-the-bone band before Christmas. That might encourage the French to lift their ban on British beef."

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