ANGRY farmers protesting at the row over British beef plan to make themselves heard on the streets of Burgess Hill.

They are planning action after traders decided their French market will go ahead as part of the town's Christmas festival.

Farmers say they will get amongst the French traders and run their own stall promoting and selling British produce, including beef.

There were strong calls to drop the event, on December 4 and 5, in protest at the French refusal to acknowledge the lifting of the beef export ban.

Talks are continuing between the French and British Governments but local farmers fear the issue will drag on, damaging their livelihoods.

The Burgess Hill Chamber of Trade, which organises the street market, supported the venture despite protests.

But the group left a final decision to chairman Paul Robinson, owner of David White Sports shop in the Martlets, Burgess Hill.

Mr Robinson said there had been only four objections lodged with the chamber and he had decided the event would go ahead after discussions with Euromarkets, who are bringing the market to the town.

Mr Robinson said of the farmers' plans to visit the market: "We are quite happy with that, and so are Euromarket. We just want the festival to go well, with the addition of the market."

The farmers' stall will find itself among 30 other stalls selling cheese, wine, pate, cider and other French goods. But they hope to persuade shoppers to buy British goods, especially in-season vegetables as well as beef.

National Farmers Union spokeswoman Isobel Bretherton said: "It is not so much a picket as a promotional exercise."

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