A PETITION on the current situation regarding milk prices gained a new signature every three minutes in Okehampton town centre last Saturday.

Farmers have protested following the announcement that some supermarkets have cut their price for milk by up to 2p a litre. The shortfall could force some of them out of business.

The petition, which gained almost 100 signatures in four hours, has been sent to the three supermarkets in the town, encouraging them to charge more for milk and give the extra money to dairy farmers.

It was designed to support those supermarkets paying fair prices to dairy farmers, and put pressure on those drawn into the recent suppression of prices.

The petition was organised by Just Living, a Christian group. The Rev David Muir said: 'Big milk companies have power over smaller dairy farmers and they have a moral responsibility to use that power well.

'We wanted to assure the supermarkets that as consumers Okehampton residents are willing to pay economic prices for milk, and do not want to be party to a milk price war.'

The sentiments have been echoed by Central Devon MP Mel Stride, who condemned the latest round of milk price cuts as he supported a national campaign for fair pricing.

The MP attended a National Farmers' Union event in London to show his support for the county's milk producers. According to the NFU, the latest cuts means the average farmer will lose £40,000 a year.

Mr Stride said: 'Dairy farmers in Devon work very hard and put in long hours to produce the milk which the whole nation wants.

'It is disappointing that again the processors have decided to cut the price and so put further pressure on the industry at this already difficult time.

'I have pledged to do all I can in Westminster to get farmers' views across and explain to processors how their actions are potentially harming milk producers.'

Last Friday, the Co-operative Group announced it would pay producers a total price of 29p per litre of milk with immediate effect.