Welfare grants rocket for struggling Welsh farmers

A rural welfare charity helping struggling farming families has already handed out twice the amount in hardship grants that it awarded last year.

The Royal Agricultural Benevolent Institution (RABI) has given £220,000 to families across Wales to help pay bills.

In north Powys grants of £55,000 were awarded in the first six months of this year alone.

RABI said since January it had helped 241 families in Wales.

The charity supports members of the farming community facing need, hardship or distress.

Erys Hughes, who manages RABI in Wales, told BBC Wales' economics correspondent Sarah Dickins that some rural families were finding it hard to make ends meet.