FOR many farmers in the Moorlands the past year has been a struggle.

Some have gone to the wall after being hit by the collapse of a dairy co-operative, while others have been forced to slaughter herds of cattle because of suspected bovine tuberculosis.

Many farmers buying and selling at Leek's weekly cattle market yesterday were looking for more help from the next Government.

Some are still counting the cost of the collapse of the Nantwich-based Dairy Farmers of Britain (DFB), in which 1,800 members lost about £50 million and which led to the closure of Fole Dairy, near Uttoxeter.

Among them is father-of-three Rob Salt, aged 32, who runs Steel House Farm, Rudyard. He wants a future government to ensure a fairer price for milk.

Mr Salt, like 75 per cent of farmers, has taken on additional work to supplement his income and estimates he works about 90 hours a week.

His wife is currently on maternity leave from Britannia and, like many other workers, is worried about the security of her job following its merger with the Co-op.

Mr Salt said: "Things have been tight over the last 12 months and it has been a bit of a struggle with the collapse of the Dairy Farmers of Britain. A lot of us lost a lot of money and it really set me back.

"Don't get us wrong, we do not want the consumer to pay more for milk, but we'd like to see a fairer return on our work, after all, we are working 70 or 80 hours a week for it."

Mr Salt is among the new generation of farmers which community leaders are keen to encourage in the Moorlands because they also help maintain the landscape, which brings in tourists and boosts the economy.

Also at the market was Rob Lawley, aged 33, who farms at Manor House Farm, Bagnall.

He reckons he works 70 to 80 hours a week and feels the farmers' lot could be improved if there was less red tape.

He said: "I went into farming because I did not want to sit behind a desk all day."

Retired farmer Alan Hudson, aged 70, sold his dairy herd at Brown Edge 11 years ago – and was glad he quit when he did.

Still a regular visitor to the market, he sympathises with the plight of dairy farmers.

He knows how tough the work can be and did not have a day off or holiday in the 40 years he was in the job.

He said: "Farming is a big issue here. I think most farmers turn out and vote.

"I think they could do with a bit more help from the Government.

"The milk prices are no good, but the bills keep coming in.

"They reckon you cannot make a living now unless you have got a herd of about 100, whereas we used to make a living out of 50."

Farmer Sheila Hine, who keeps a 120-strong dairy herd in Meerbrook, said traditional farmers were being penalised all the time by restrictions and regulations.

She said: "Everyone will tell you the same.

"There should be less bureaucracy so we can get on with our job, instead of getting tied up with paperwork.

"It is getting more and more of a struggle with all this bureaucracy coming from Brussels."

Another emerging issue in the Moorlands has been plans by supermarket rivals Sainsbury's and Tesco to build giant out-of-town stores in Leek, which is in the heart of a constituency which also includes Biddulph.

The proposals are splitting the town. Some fear it will lead to the closure of family-run businesses, while others are in favour because of the promise of hundreds of new jobs.

Among the opponents is a revived Chamber of Trade, which is increasingly becoming a force to be reckoned with by the political parties.

It is not against the arrival of the supermarket giants, but wants the stores in the town centre.

Members of a Save Our Leek Campaign, set up in response to the two applications, hope whoever is elected will support their fight.

Campaign founder Richard Wilson said he had written to all four candidates contesting the seat.

He said: "I have sounded them all out, but I think it is a bit too close to call. I think they have probably all got splinters in their backsides from sitting on the bench.

"I'd like to think whoever is elected will support us."

The chamber has its own vision for the town, but feels it is being ignored.

A spokesman said: "We want shoppers and visitors to be encouraged to stay in the town, by ensuring there is a sufficient, significant spread of shops available.

"That's why for the past few months we have been actively campaigning for an in-town supermarket development.

"We would welcome with open arms a food store to relocate into the town centre.

"Such a store would bring tremendous benefits, not just the increased investment, but also the associated footfall.

"We hope that, whatever the outcome of the election, it gives our local council the opportunity to take stock of the issues facing Leek and to listen to commercialism and practicality."

Labour's Charlotte Atkins faces a huge task in holding on to her seat in the Staffordshire Moorlands.

Boundary changes have meant Kidsgrove, a traditionally Labour-voting area, has been transferred to the Stoke-on-Trent North constituency.

If the 2005 election had been contested with these new boundaries, it is estimated Labour would have lost to the Conservatives.

As it was, Mrs Atkins won by a majority of 2,438 votes.

Conservative candidate Karen Bradley will be hoping to capitalise on this.

The other candidates are Liberal Democrat Henry Jebb and UKIP's Steve Povey.