Dairy Crest increases price it pay farmers for milk

One of the dairy firms targeted by farmers in blockades in the summer has announced it is to increase the amount it pays for milk.

Dairy Crest, which is supplied by 1,000 dairy farmers, will pay 29p a litre on contracts for liquid milk from November - an increase of 3p.

The company's plants in Derbyshire and Gloucestershire were the subject of blockades in July over prices.

Dairy Crest supplies about 15% of British milk production.

The firm said the rise was "much needed" because of "higher on-farm costs that all dairy farmers are currently experiencing following the difficult weather conditions this summer".

Dairy Crest, the maker of Cathedral City cheese and Country Life butter, will also pay more for Davidstow cheese.