
French farmers stepped up their blockades of cities, roads and tourist sites today in a dispute over falling food prices which they say are driving them to bankruptcy.

Protesters have dumped manure in cities, blocked access to roads and motorways and hindered tourists from reaching Mont St Michel in northern France, one of the country's most visited attractions.

Overnight, farmers blocked the A1 motorway, a key artery between Paris and northern France, with around 500 tractors.

French President Francois Hollande has promised to unveil an emergency aid plan to help them, but unions say they expect the demonstrations to continue nonetheless.

The protests come as the latest in a series of wildcat strikes by ferry workers crippled access to the Channel Tunnel in Calais once again yesterday, wrecking holiday plans for thousands of British families.

A French farmer pushes tyres onto a fire with his tractor to block the A1 Lille-Paris highway in Seclin in a dispute over falling food prices. The protesters have blocked roads in northwestern France, home to a large part of the livestock industry. The placard reads: 'Our work has a price'

A French farmer drives his tractor past burning tyres to block the A1 Lille-Paris highway early in the morning in Seclin. French President Francois Hollande has promised measures to help livestock and dairy farmers who say falling food prices is driving them to bankruptcy

Farmers blocked the A1 motorway, a key artery between Paris and northern France, with around 500 tractors to protest over squeezed margins

Yet more travel mayhem: Truck drivers are stuck in traffic on the A1 highway in Seclin due to a blockage by farmers along the highway

The head of the powerful FNSEA farmers' union, Xavier Beulin, said he expected the protests to continue, adding they 'could be extended to other regions on Wednesday.'

Jean-Pierre Fleury, head of a union representing beef farmers, said: 'The farmers will not let up, for the simple reason they are fighting for their lives.'

A combination of changing dietary habits – French consumers are eating less meat – and foreign competition has driven down pork, beef and milk prices.

Farmers blame supermarkets, distributors and the food processing industry for keeping prices low.

Retailers and food industry chiefs had promised to raise prices on meat and dairy after a meeting with farmers last month but the farmers say price hikes in supermarkets have yet to filter down to them.

The head of the FNSEA farmers' union expects the protests to continue, adding they 'could be extended to other regions on Wednesday'

Farmers block the Oleron bridge linking Oleron Island with mainland France near Marennes as wave of strikes escalated across the country

A wave of strikes across the country has escalated this week, with farmers saying price hikes in supermarkets have yet to filter down to them

French President Francois Hollande has promised to unveil a package of measures later today.

Agriculture Minister Stephane Le Foll has already hinted measures could include tax breaks and debt relief for heavily-indebted farms.

The government will also publish an eagerly-awaited report by an independent mediator which will decide who is at fault for keeping prices low.

Le Foll has said around 10 per cent of farms in France (approximately 22,000 operations) are on the brink of bankruptcy with a combined debt of a €1billion ($1.1 billion), according to the FNSEA.

FNSEA chief Beulin warned that the farmers were expecting 'a bit more than trivial measures' from the government on Wednesday.

Livestock farmers burn tires as they block roads with their tractors during a protest in Quimper, northwestern France on Tuesday evening

Livestock breeders use manure to block a road to the Mont Saint-Michel (background) in the northwestern region of Normandy on Tuesday

He called for 'a medium and long-term plan with ambitions and objectives.'

Yesterday, British tourists vented their fury at Calais ferry workers after thousands of families' holidays were wrecked by twelve-mile tailbacks when French wildcat strikers burned tyres and blocked the Channel Tunnel.

One family who had two sick toddlers in the car were forced to turn back after being caught up in the chaos.

People travelling on Eurotunnel faced long delays after protesters set fire to tyres near two terminals in Calais, sending thick black plumes of smoke billowing into the air.

The industrial action was renewed as a series of crippling flash strikes entered their second month – allowing UK-bound illegal migrants to once again take advantage of the chaos by jumping onto stranded trucks and cars.

Delays: British tourists have hit out at Calais ferry workers after thousands of families' holidays were wrecked by twelve-mile tailbacks when French wildcat strikers burned tyres and blocked the Channel Tunnel today. Lorries and cars are pictured queuing on the A16 in Calais