Farmers have welcomed news that milk prices may not drop to predicted levels.

Two major dairies were expected to cut payments to farmers this month but prices are now likely to remain stable at least until February.

The move may head off a proposed strike by campaign group Farmers for Action (FFA) which staged regular protests outside the Arla Foods' dairy, near Uckfield, last year.

Arla was likely to drop its prices this month if competitor Robert Wiseman Dairies had cut prices as expected.

But Wiseman has said there will be no price drop this month.

Youleite Parkes's husband Pete, of Kinnersley Manor Farm, Sidlow, near Reigate in Surrey, is regional FFA organiser and was given a six-month conditional discharge for blockading outside the Uckfield Arla last August.

She said: "It's always good news if they don't drop the price but we always wonder what's round the corner."

Mrs Parkes has also been charged with obstructing the highway outside Arla and will appear at Lewes Magistrates Court on January 25.

On average, a litre of supermarket milk costs 57p. Farmers are paid an average 18p per litre by retailers or processors for their milk but the National Farmers Union estimates it costs them 22p just to produce one litre.

Over the past few months, farmers have warned that the UK dairy industry could collapse unless milk prices rise.

Tuesday, January 10, 2006