Farmers across Sussex refused to supply any produce to highlight the growing crisis in their industry yesterday.

Dairy farmers did not make any deliveries and no cattle were taken to market.

Alan Smith, who runs a dairy farm near Gatwick, was one of many farmers across Britain who went on strike.

He took action in protest at what he sees as the Government's failure to help them in the wake of BSE, foot-and-mouth and bad weather, which has destroyed crops.

Mr Smith, 54, said: "The public go and buy a pint of milk for 40p but a British farmer is getting just 13 to 16p at best and it is not covering the costs of production.

"With the milk I will have to throw it away. It will cost me £200 so it's not a decision I have taken lightly but we feel we are left with no choice."

Mr Smith, chairman of the cattle committee at the South of England Agricultural Society, said: "The past 12 months has been the hardest financially I have ever had and if I was not working with my daughter I would probably be one of the farmers packing up.

"Most farmers are in their 60s and young people are not coming into it because they can see there is no money or future in it.

"Sussex reflects the national trend. Some farms in Sussex are in a position where they can let buildings but often the land is worth a lot more to developers. The Government has got to realise the importance of British agriculture."

Farmers are having to sell up or go bust because the cost of production is higher than the prices of the goods.

A spokesman for the Department of the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, said: "We recognise the farming industry is experiencing difficulties despite the considerable financial support it gets from the Government and consumers.

"Many of the issues over pricing are commercial matters between farmers and supermarkets but we are working with the industry looking at food chain issues. We do listen and we do work with farmers."