THE Ribble Valley's "last remaining pig farmer" has warned that the industry is on the verge of collapse in Lancashire.

And an MP is calling on East Lancashire consumers to buy British pork and bacon to beat the decline.

Phillip Edge, of Fairfield Farm, Clayton-le-Dale, said the support of consumers was crucial to the survival of local agriculture.

He said: "I used to have 1,800 pigs and now have 500. I don't think I'll ever have that many pigs again and my wife and I survive by running a successful farm shop selling pork products directly to the general public and quality restaurants.

"When I started in this business, there were about 250 pig farmers in Lancashire and now there are about 35. It is predicted there could only be about five of us left within two years and I believe I am the last in the Ribble Valley.

"The infrastructure of pig farming is collapsing, with the closure of abattoirs and feed merchants. The state of the industry is dire and the support of consumers is crucial to its survival."

Ribble Valley MP Nigel Evans said: "The UK pig industry is in turmoil. Pig farmers have suffered from new layers of EU regulation and restrictions on pig feed, and are now being hammered by miserly supermarket prices.

"UK markets are at the lowest level since February last year and the main reasons for the downturn are an increase in the import of cheap pig products from abroad, as well as stagnant consumer demand, which is hampering industry growth.

"The state of the pig industry is symptomatic of the problems faced by farmers across the country. The Government has shown a complete lack of interest in the plight of the countryside and Lancashire farmers are suffering as a result.

"I appeal to East Lancashire consumers to buy British produce. Their help is sorely needed by local farming families and I am convinced British food is among the best in the world."

Gill Shearer, Lancashire spokesman for the National Farmers' Union, said the local pig industry was on its knees and also called on consumers to buy British.

She said: "Consumers have to remember that welfare standards for pork production are higher in the UK than anywhere else in the world. The pig sector in Lancashire has endured a torrid time in recent years and we need to support local pig producers, before we lose them completely."

Ribble Valley farmers fought back from the devastation of foot and mouth to take local supermarkets by storm with their Bowland Fresh Milk.

Fifteen farmers formed a collective and became the cream of the crop after their fresh milk was snapped up by shoppers in a hugely successful consumer campaign.

Downham farmer Tom Binns, a member of the collective and chairman of the Lancashire branch of the National Farmers' Union, said: "Supporting local farmers will help keep agriculture alive. We never miss what we've got until it's not there any more."