HUNDREDS of East Lancashire farmers are expected to converge on Blackpool on Sunday for a protest march at the start of the Labour Party conference.

They will join others from all over the country to call on the Government to "keep Britain farming."

The march has been organised by the National Farmers' Union.

A local NFU spokesman said agriculture was in the depths of a depression and the strong pound was "squeezing the life out of every type of farming."

"The Government's economic policy, which has seen sterling and interests rates soar, is knocking our industry from all sides," she said.

"In addition the export ban on British beef is continuing to wear down the livestock sector."

Sunday's event starts with a rally at Blackpool Football Club at 2pm. It will be followed by a march at 3pm along Blackpool Promenade to the conference venue, the Winter Gardens.

The protestors are expected to be addressed at the Winter Gardens by Agriculture Minister Nick Brown.

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