Philip Dunne MP added his voice to calls for action following the proposed closure of the Allscot Sugar Beet factory. "This is devastating for local suppliers", he said. "There are 67 sugar beet growers in the Ludlow constituency , out of 600 supplying Allscott from the surrounding area. For many of these farmers sugar beet was the main cash crop on their farm, for some, the only thing keeping them in business in recent years."

Some farmers will have invested large sums of capital in equipment which will now have limited value.

Shropshire's sugar farmers have repeatedly sought reassurances from British Sugar about the future of the plant.

Mr Dunne said today: "With other MPs I have met the management, since becoming an MP, to try to get confirmation that the company was not going to close the smallest sugar beet refinery in the UK. I was not convinced by their attempts at reassurance at the time, and so it has proved."

Mr Dunne added: "The National Farmers' Union is negotiating the best possible compensation package for those suppliers affected. British Sugar should also be examining ways in which local farmers could continue to supply the company. Management may have given up too quickly on the plant. Other options, such as converting the plant into a bio-ethanol producer, also need to be explored."

A meeting has been called for Thursday 27th July at 3pm at the Buckatree Hotel, at the foot of The Wrekin, hosted by Mark Pritchard, MP for the Wrekin with the NFU and growers representatives. Mr Dunne urges any grower interested to attend, for further details call Jane Gibson on 01584 872 18.