Page 16 - Rob Mutimer News Today

Fruit growers and pig farmers have been hit by a shortage of workers, the BBC is told.

Morrisons has reduced its pork prices and increased the amount of meat it prepares as part of new measures to help the country's struggling pig farmers.

The majority of retailers have committed to supporting crisis-hit pig farmers by stocking British pork, claims the National Pig Association.

Thousands of pigs have been slaughtered on farms in England as part of a welfare cull due to a chronic staff shortage, the National Pig Association (NPA)

Norfolk pig farmers are pleading with the government to remove a "ridiculously small" immigration obstacle which could help avoid the mass cull of animals.

Culling has started on a 'handful' of pig farms across the country with fears this could become more widespread unless solutions to the crisis are found.

Farming groups have been left 'shocked and dismayed' after Boris Johnson played down the prospect of a mass cull of pigs due to a shortage of plant staff.

Boris Johnson has said the mass slaughter of pigs has not yet taken place but farmers wearing save our bacon T-shirts who gathered to protest outside Tory Conference in Manchester say different.

Farmers have warned a butcher shortage could see 120,000 pigs slaughtered on farms because they cannot go to the abattoir and they have nowhere to house them. | ITV National News

British families should buy their Christmas dinner in advance and keep it in the freezer, retail experts have warned amid fears supermarkets could run out of festive items including pigs in blankets.