HILL farmers should be represented on national park authority boards, according to a group of influential MPs.

The All-party Parliamentary Hill Farming Group wants the Government to introduce a new convention to ensure national park boards in areas with strong farming traditions have at least one farmer member.

The group's chairman, Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron, is writing to Defra Secretary Liz Truss to urge her to make such appointments.

"We believe at least one uplands farmer should be on national park boards in areas where hill farming is a major part of the local life and economy," said Mr Farron.

"Many decisions made by these boards have a direct impact on farming. An example is the pressure to reduce sheep numbers. On issues like this it is only fair that the industry has a say in the policies adopted and decisions made.

"The Secretary of State makes six appointments to national park authorities and we say at least one of these should be from a farming background. This is particularly important in national parks like the Lake District and the Dales."

Mr Farron said the interests of hill farmers in national parks went beyond direct industry concerns to embrace other areas such as planning, bio-diversity and flood prevention.

"There are wide ranging decisions made by park authority boards that affect farmers," said Mr Farron. "Barn conversions are an issue - whether they can be converted into affordable homes or into business use. And farmers should have a say in other forms of diversification such as campsites."

Mr Farron added that farmers could also bring new areas of expertise to the park authority boards to help "enrich decision making".