DAIRY farmers from the Swindon area were today declaring a small victory following their protest over low milk prices.

They were among 70 farmers who staged a blockade at the Dairy Crest plant near Stroud in Gloucestershire.

When they arrived at the milk depot, they found Dairy Crest had put up barriers to ensure the farmers could not park in its entrance.

Farmers instead maintained a four-hour vigil at the site, then left. They were matched by an equal number of police.

Although no deliveries broke the blockade, the protest was not expected to disrupt milk suppliers and supermarkets had time to prepare for it.

Guy Dibble, 43, a dairy farmer from Highworth, was at the protest on Thursday night. He believes it will be the first of many more if supermarkets do not improve the prices they paying farmers for milk.

Farmers currently get only 10p a pint for their milk, when it sells for 25p to 40p.

Mr Dibble said: "We've achieved what we wanted, which is bring this issue into the public domain.

"Now it's up to the public to talk to their supermarkets and ask them if they think farmers are getting a fair deal."