MILES down a quiet country lane near Thirsk, in the kitchen of a farmhouse overlooking swaying wheat fields, a group of farmers are sat around the table discussing the plight of the industry.

It's a cosy scene you could see any day, anywhere across North Yorkshire, but today is different. David Cameron has joined them for a chat.

They tell him farming is tough; beef, lamb, egg and milk prices are down. They say what they need is a long-term food strategy, so they can invest and get capital allowances on buildings, for example.

As the Prime Minister's extensive entourage waits outside, the chat continues for some 30 minutes, before Mike Wilkinson, whose wife Lorna has spent days preparing their home for Mr Cameron's visit, shows the Tory leader around his 850-acre farm.

Despite the sun beating down outside, the Prime Minister's wearing a fleece jacket, but appears determined to look unflustered as a small flock of photographers capture the tour which has been set up by Thirsk and Malton MP Kevin Hollinrake, an ardent Remain in the EU campaigner.

When asked what he would say to farmers and traders from the region who have long expressed exasperation over bizarre EU red tape Mr Cameron breathlessly launches into a 360-word answer.

"The EU is far from perfect and far from perfect when it comes to farming," he admits, before highlighting how a UK exit from the EU could hamper access to a market of more than 500 million people, end farming support payments that "keep Britain farming" and lose access to the European courts, making it more difficult to overturn bans on produce during an animal health crisis.

"We would be putting our farmers at risk. Today we sell no beef, not one single piece of beef to America." And at this point he makes his first slight slip. "They kept their beef on ban bone", before immediately correcting himself with a laugh, "their beef on the bone ban."

He gesticulates as he goes on to enthuse about the vitality of EU membership to the Conservative's Northern Powerhouse plans, saying the single market is crucial for maintaining the region's exports.

It's a truly passionate performance, backed up by agricultural knowledge and a willingness of listen that impressed North York Moors sheep farmer Richard Findlay.

As Mr Cameron's party drives off down the lane, dairy farmer Paul Tompkins, of Pocklington, who is being paid just 17p a pint for milk which costs him 23p to produce, says he felt Mr Cameron took his points on board, reaffirming his decision to vote to remain in the EU.

Mr Findlay adds: "I was encouraged by his sentiment towards farming. He reminded us that we are part of a big food chain that puts high quality food on the shelves at a low price."