A SPECTACULAR message in letters 25 metres high has been ploughed into fields in the Prime Minister's constituency to draw attention to the plight of farming.

Tony Wilson, of Trimdon Station, County Durham, has ploughed the words "farming counts" into his newly- harvested field just a mile-and-a-half from Tony Blair's constituency home.

The hillside message, 25m high and 100m wide, can be seen by motorists travelling south along the B1278 from Wheatley Hill to Sedgefield, a route sometimes used by Mr Blair during visits to the region.

Mr Wilson, a beef and cereal farmer, said: "I just wanted to get across to as many people as possible that farming is in a critical state and we need their support. We need the public's support, but we also desperately need the backing of our Government.

"I hope Mr Blair sees this message and acts to prevent a total collapse of the farming industry in the UK.

"The low prices we are currently receiving for our produce is causing an exodus from the industry.

"The cereals I am harvesting at the moment are worth only half what they were five years ago. It's simply not sustainable."

The National Farmers' Union launched its Farming Counts campaign yesterday at events across the country to show people why they count on farming and what they risk losing.