Struggling Cumbrian dairy farmers want to march on Downing Street amid growing concern over months of punishing cuts in milk prices paid to producers.

Southwaite farmer’s wife Margaret Wilson is rallying support for a national protest march through the streets of London, planned for March 23.

Farmers For Action (FFA) said it needed at least 1,000 people to support the march – which will also see a letter handed in to Prime Minister David Cameron – otherwise it would not take place.

The demonstration will be aimed at all sectors and the FFA claims it will be an opportunity for “ordinary, hardworking farmers” to get their message across about the testing times facing the farming industry.

Mrs Wilson, whose family farm is Thackwood, has emailed local agricultural businesses including Carrs, Rickerby’s and Aspatria Farmers in a bid to drum up support to help meet transport costs.

“This is not just about dairy farmers,” said Mrs Wilson, who was at the forefront of the campaign for fairer prices for milk in 2012.

“We need support from our beef and lamb producers too, who have also been having a hard time with farmgate prices. We need to send a strong message.

“This is our chance to put our case across in the streets of London.”

Her rallying cry comes as milk buyers once again slash the price paid to producers.

In a shock move, Arla’s direct milk suppliers – of which there are a number in Cumbria – were told they face a whacking 3.25ppl milk price cut from March 1.

This will take their price to 16ppl, compared with 19.25ppl they received last month and will receive this month.

The 17 per cent cut comes on top of a 0.9p/litre cut on January 1 for the 40 to 50 direct suppliers estimated to be affected nationally at that time.

Exactly two years ago those same suppliers were receiving 33.5p/litre – more than double their February 2016 price.

The co-op also confirmed late last week it had lost a significant volume of the fresh liquid milk business it supplies to Tesco, which has decide to move that business to Muller Milk & Ingredients.

Neither Arla nor Tesco would confirm the volume involved, although this has been widely speculated at 200 million litres. Both declined to comment.

The news came after another tumultuous week for the county’s dairy farmers.

Dairy Crest delivered a blow to its farmers supplying Davidstow, by cutting 1.6ppl off their milk price from March 1.

First Milk also confirmed that recent milk price announcements and continued market weakness led to a February A price reduction of 0.62ppl for Midlands and East Wales balancing, and a 0.19ppl fall for Scotland balancing.

Rob Harrison, chairman of the National Farmers Union (NFU), urged dairy farmers to consider their future and make plans for what to do if the industry goes under.

“How can any farmer run a business faced with cuts of this degree and immediacy?” said Mr Harrison.

On their website, FFA is encouraging people who want to take part in the march to start thinking about costumes and banners which will draw the attention of the public and media.

“This march will be lawful, so anyone who is coming with intention of causing disruption in London you will do it at your own risk and will be dealt with by the authorities,” said FFA, chairman, David Handley.

“I would stress this is not just about dairy farming, and I know this is a busy time for farmers with lambing coming up, and it would be a very long day,” continued Mrs Wilson.

“A lot of farmers are going to go down, so I would say this is your last stand, your last fight.

“Just ask – who can I get to cover me to ensure there is a future for my business.”

The last major farming event held in London was in 2012, when more than 3,000 dairy farmers staged an emergency meeting in Westminster to highlight the plight of milk producers.

Prior to that, more than 400,000 people attended the Countryside March in 2002, where farmers and rural campaigners marched to raise awareness of a range of rural issues including protests against the then Labour government’s proposal to ban hunting with dogs.