FARMERS from throughout East Lancashire were heading for Chorley today to take part in a protest urging people to say "Non" to Beaujolais Nouveau.

They have declared today British Beef and Beer Day to encourage consumers to buy home-grown produce.

They were dishing up British beef and local beer outside the Market Walk Centre in Chorley to make their point.

The Beef and Beer Day is part of the National Farmers' Union's 'Thank You for Buying British' campaign.

Beaujolais Nouveau Day takes place annually on the third Thursday of November, when the current year's wine is freshly released.

It is a major money-spinning event in the French wine calendar.

The farmers are being joined in their protest by Chorley MP Lindsay Hoyle, who called on wine-lovers across Lancashire to boycott Beaujolais.

And Chipping farmer Peter Stott issued this rallying call to local shoppers: "If the French don't want our beef, then we don't want their Beaujolais."

He said: "Our farmers produce beef, barley and hops to the highest standard in the world and we are proud of this fact.

"We need to shout about it a little more and, when the French wine merchants arrive with their Beaujolais, we hope they will find British consumers raising a glass of beer to British beef."

Other events aimed at celebrating British produce planned for the coming months include a Pork and Cider Breakfast and a Turkey Day.

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