About 50 farmers and supporters stages protests in two Workington supermarkets over the price of milk.

Protestors visited Asda and Tesco in the town to clear the shelves of milk amid a campaign about the low rates paid to farmers for the product.

Dairy farming has hit the headlines in recent days as farmers say supermarket price wars have left them receiving less money for their milk than it costs to produce.

They fear they could be forced out of business, affecting the country's milk supply, if the price of a pint in the supermarkets isn't increased.

Farmers from across West Cumbria visited the Workington supermarkets after protesting in Whitehaven.

In Asda, they cleared the shelves of milk, putting it all in trolleys and leaving it in the bottled water aisle to highlight that that product now costs more than theirs.

It is understood Tesco staff had been forewarned of the protest by their Whitehaven colleagues and the protesters found the milk shelves empty.

Instead they cleared the supermarket's yoghurts, cream and cheese into trolleys.

Government figures show that in June farmers were paid an average of 23.66 pence per litre of milk they produced.

Farmers estimate that is costs between 30p and 32p per litre to produce, but figures vary.

Louise Haston, 36, of Dearham Hall Farm, was one of the supermarket protestors.

The dairy farmer, who has about 160 cows, said: "The general public have been really supportive. They could understand. They didn't realise how little we got for our milk

"My husband's family's been milking cows for a lot of years. We have been there for about 12. My eight-year-old son desperately wants to be a farmer. It's fighting for a future for him."

Morrisons this week announced plans for a new range of milk which would pay farmers an extra 10p per litre.

The move will give customers the choice to support British dairy farmers but Louise said it was not enough, partly because it would only benefit farmers supplying the Arla dairy.

She added: "A lot of people are with First Milk at Aspatria and Meadow Foods so they wouldn't get any benefit.

"The general public still has the option of buying the normal milk at the lower price.

"We'd like to see the price increased across the board. People are willing to pay more because it's something we have to have."

Sue Hayman, Workington MP, has written to Liz Truss, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, asking her to support the farmers.

She said: "I'm very concerned about the ongoing situation, especially as I represent a rural constituency where dairy farming is a vital part of our local economy.

"I want to know what the Government plans to do to ensure that our dairy farmers are paid a fair price for the milk they are producing.

"The government must do everything in its power to support Britain’s dairy industry, working with supermarkets, farmers and dairies to promote home-grown produce and ensuring that the farmers in my constituency get a fair deal."

A meeting called by the NFU will be held in south Cumbria on August 27.