NORTH Yorkshire farmers concerned about their industry's plight were given two pieces of good news when they met MEP Mr Edward McMillan-Scott, who told farmers the European Commission had just agreed two key decisions to help the industry.

One was to subsidise school milk to the tune of 75pc, rather than commission plans for 50pc, the other involved labelling beef, making clear its country of origin.

Mr McMillan-Scott, leader of Britain's Conservative group in Europe and who represents Yorkshire and the Humber, appropriately lunched with farmers at the Drovers' Inn, Bishop Thornton, near Ripon. The pub became the focal point for the region's campaign against the beef on the bone ban.

Amid nationwide publicity the pub landlord, Mr Chris Bowman, had a beef on the bone case against him dropped at York crown court following a spirited battle by Nidderdale area farmers.

Mr McMillan-Scott said he and his colleagues had been pressing for action on the milk subsisdy and beef labelling for some time, following growing concern from the farming community.

Thirty local farmers, some of them ditching silage making to meet the MEP in their working clothes, expressed concern about what they described as growing Brussels red tape.

Mr McMillan-Scott agreed there was too much and pledged to continue to fight against its growth.

The meeting was arranged by the Killinghall representative on Harrogate Borough Council, Coun Mike Bury, who played a key role in the campaign to get the beef on the bone ban lifted.

Coun Bury said he was delighted farmers had been able to meet the MEP face-to-face. "The crisis in agriculture has not gone away and we have some farmers earning 50p an hour; that's how bad it is round here. Not surprisingly some of them feel they are on the way out," he said.

After meeting farmers, Mr McMillan-Scott went walkabout in Hampsthwaite, popping into the village store, hairdresser's, post office and corner shop to talk about rural issues to villagers.

Coun Bury said farmers were pleased to hear about milk subsidies and more clearly defined labelling and had been assured the MEP would continue to try to secure an even higher profile for Britain's agricultural industry in Europe.

"It's a crisis in the countryside, but it's also having a knock-on effect in urban areas too," Coun Bury.