SOUTH Craven MP Julian Smith has called on the Chancellor to provide additional short-term support to dairy farmers.

He made the plea during a visit to the Skipton & Ripon constituency by George Osborne.

Mr Smith said farmers needed help from HMRC and the Treasury with flexibility on tax and VAT payments and he added that banks should be flexible with interest rate payments on loans given for capital investment.

He has also raised the issue in Parliament.

"I fear and suspect that were we talking about another industry – such as the car industry – there would be a cross-Government task force, committee and cheerleader," said Mr Smith.

"We want that sort of focus for the dairy industry."