CUMBRIAN farmers have reacted angrily to measures to cut beef production proposed in the wake of the collapse of the beef market on mainland Europe.

The NFU slammed the measures, which include a return to the 90-head limit on the for Beef Special Premium payments, as "ill-conceived, unnecessary and damaging to British farmers".

The package of measures announced by EU Commissioner Franz Fischler is designed to deal with a 30 per cent slump in beef sales on the continent and avert the danger of a beef mountain developing following the deepening BSE crisis.

l A return of the 90-head limit on the Beef Special Premium scheme.

l A minimum 20 per cent of heifers eligible for Suckler Cow Premium Scheme to be included in SCP claims.

l A compulsory reduction in stocking density for BSP and SCP.

l The removal of the 350,000 tonne intervention ceiling for two years.

Cumbrian farmer and NFU Livestock committee chairman, Les Armstrong, said: "We understand that there is a problem in Europe and that the commission faces a difficult task - but what is needed is for consumer confidence to be restored in the same way that happened in Britain - these measures will not achieve that.

"After all the suffering of British farmers, a cut in production in the UK, when we are slowly recovering from the measures imposed on us in 1996, is not acceptable."