BRINKWORTH farmer Joe Collingborn has warned Tony Blair's government that patience is wearing very thin among his community.

Mr Collingborn, 50, has been a farmer all his life but is extremely angry at the current state of the dairy farming industry.

He welcomed shadow agriculture minister Tim Yeo to Hill End Farm in Brinkworth and demanded assurances that any Conservative government would do more than simply pay 'lip service' to farmers.

The farmer said it was costing him 17p to produce a litre of milk, yet he received only 16p for the privilege from the dairy.

"A great pitchfork rebellion is coming. Farmers have had enough," he said.

"I want robust assurances that the Conservatives will take up this issue. We don't want subsidies, we just want a fair price for our product."

Mr Yeo said: "Dairy farming is important in ensuring a strong rural economy."