WEST Devon farmers brought their 'Buy British' campaign to the heart of Tavistock at the weekend intent on playing their French counterparts at their own game in the cross-Channel beef war.

The move was part of a continuing drive by South West farmers to keep up the pressure on their 'Buy British' campaign and to renew calls for the Government to end its ban on beef on the bone.

Shoppers in Tavistock town centre got an 'A-level' lesson on how to buy British from local farmers intent on playing their French counterparts at their own game.

A table was set up in Bedford Square for two hours on Saturday morning by eight farmers in protest at the French ban on British beef, attracting a large number of people.

Two Bridges farmer Layland Branfield said: 'We were able to point out to shoppers where and what to look for if they want to support British farmers and buy British food — and they do, which is a wonderful thing.

'There is a small oval label no bigger than my thumbnail which denotes where meat comes from and it is amazing how few people know about this.

'It was a very interesting exercise. Shoppers pick up goods to look

at the price and sell-by-date but never at the small label which shows the place of origin.'

Mr Branfield said some labelling was very misleading and often caught people out.

'We laid out a variety of French and British goods and asked people to guess where they came from, it was an A-level shopping exercise,' he said.

The group of farmers, all NFU members, also handed out leaflets and stickers.

'I feel very positive and a whole lot better,' added Mr Branfield. 'The support is there and we were very pleased with Saturday's result.'

He said farmers were unhappy with the Government's decision not to ban French meat following last week's revelation that French farmers give their animals feed made in part from human waste.

'People can vote with their feet and refuse to buy French meat — if they want wholesome food then buy British,' he urged.

Giants Safeway and Somerfield said this week they had no plans to remove French goods from their supermarket shelves.

'But we are asking stores to promote and give English produce prominence,' said a Safeway spokesman. 'We don't want to jeopardise our customers shopping habits because of French

behaviour.'

Carole Baker, Somerfield's spokeswoman said: 'The only thing we are doing is removing loose French apples in order to bring in a wide range of English apples.

'We believe choice is down to the customer.'

l French chicken burgers are off school menus throughout the county following Tuesday's agreement by Devon County Council not to purchase any more until after a meeting with the NFU.

Union representatives are to be invited to join the council in looking at buying arrangements to try and support Devon's farmers.