PIG FARMERS from across North and East Yorkshire descended on London today to demand a fairer deal from the Government.

Along with mascot Winnie the Pig, they gathered outside the Royal Courts of Justice on the opening day of a judicial review launched by the British Pig Industry Support Group (BPISG).

The aim of the review, which is scheduled to end tomorrow with the result coming any time over the next few weeks, is to secure £200 million compensation from the Government.

The BPISG claims this figure will compensate pig farmers for the so-called 'BSE tax', a punitive charge on offal production which, the farmers claim, has very little to do with pig farming.

Matthew Atkin, who farms at Everingham and is BPISG chairman, said 500 farmers were there to show their support for the court case.

"North East pig farmers supply about 30 per cent of the UK's pigs so there is considerable interest in this event from the area.

"We have got a coach full. There's not a spare place on it. Others have come down by car and train and somebody has even flown down."

John Rowbottom, an influential member of the British Pig Executive who farms at Melbourne, commented: "We have basically all gone to the court because the Ministry of Agriculture said the people bringing this case were a rabble who did not represent the pig industry. As a result we have got 500 reasonably irate pig farmers representing the industry in London."

Pig producers argue they have to pay £5.26 per animal because of extra safety measures, such as offal disposal, put in place since the BSE crisis.

Unlike beef and lamb farmers, pig producers did not get any financial help from the Government to help pay for these measures.

The BPISG claims the Government acted illegally in doing this by discriminating against them and making them unable to compete with farmers on the continent. They point out the EC Commission recognised the pig industry as an "exceptional circumstance" justifying state aid.

John Greenway, Conservative MP for Ryedale , pledged his support for the farmers: "I encouraged them to do the judicial review and look forward to the outcome."