ANGRY Cumbrian dairy farmers are expected to attend a milk price crisis meeting in Penrith tonight as activists call for direct action against dairy companies and supermarkets.

Farmers for Action leader David Handley has agreed to address the meeting at the town's auction, which has been called after a series of devastating price reductions.

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Many farmers have seen their milk earnings tumble from 32p a litre to 27p in just six months while some suppliers to First Milk, owner of the Lake District Creamery, have seen the price they get fall to just over 24p a litre.

An increasing number of farmers are now calling for dairy companies to be blockaded and protests staged at supermarkets to highlight the extent of their plight. Mr Handley, who has organised a number of milk protests in recent years, said dairy farmers should also reduce the amount of milk they produce to force up price.

Meanwhile, Westmorland and Lonsdale MP Tim Farron said public support for dairy farmers would be 'key' as they battle for a better deal. He has written to Christine Tacon, the Supermarket Ombudsman, and asked her to investigate the recent milk price cuts.

Mr Farron said: “Everyone from communities to governments must do more to help dairy farmers. I am doing all I can and will keep pressing Westminster to do more to assist. I have asked the Supermarket Ombudsman to investigate the recent milk price cuts as I think they show the power of the supermarkets to hurt small producers.

“Many farmers rely on the big processors and any cut in the in milk prices hurts them, their business but also the villages in which they live and work.”

One of the reasons for the dairy famers' dilemma is the ongoing global market volatility, which has seen a 50 per cent reduction in prices in recent months. This has resulted in a farm-gate price drop for dairy farmers of between 20-30 per cent.