THE skies in Bury will be lit up next Thursday (February 26) as part of a national protest by farmers to highlight what they claim is the desperate state of the agriculture industry.

Beacons and bonfires will be ablaze just days before local country folk join a national march in London.

Their cry for help has been organised by the National Farmers Union, the Countryside Association and many other similar unions and organisations.

Mr Jim Booker of Captains Farm, Bury said: "Beacons have always been used as a sign of impending national crisis, which we now have in the farming industry.

"It is our way of getting the Government to sit up and take notice of the agricultural industry.

"So far protests have been peaceful but if the state of things is allowed to continue then many will start using other means."

The protest by farmers is against a wide range of issues including the beef crisis, imports of meat into the country as well as the lack of support they receive from Westminster.

"I have never seen so much bitterness in the agricultural industry as there is now," said Mr Booker, who along with colleagues will be lighting a beacon.

On Sunday, March 1, Mr Booker will be travelling to London to protest in person to the Government. The march, which is a follow on from last year's rally in Hyde Park, is expected to attract thousands of people from all over the country.

The lighting ceremony will take place across the country and farms in the region will light their beacons at around 6.20pm.

Other farms taking part in the borough are Harcles Hill Farm in Holcombe and Castle Hill Farm in Bury.

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