THE Government was today being urged to help North Yorkshire farmers hit by flash-flooding - after a report warned that hill farming generally was on the brink of collapse.

Ryedale MP John Greenway was calling in the House of Commons for farmers in the Helmsley area to be given aid to replace 50 miles of walls, fences and hedges destroyed by floods last month.

He said farmers were struggling to afford to carry out repairs - even before new EU proposals deprived them of even more income.

The National Trust, which looks after about 150,000 hectares of upland, including areas of the North York Moors, said in a report that the majority of farms were facing a severe fall in income and were at risk of a rapid, unmanaged collapse.

It said the problem stemmed from the separation of European support payments from agricultural production, exposing the stark reality that livestock farming in the hills simply is not profitable.

Under the new system, hill farmers will not have to keep livestock in order to receive their Common Agricultural Policy payments and, according to the National Trust, there is a real risk that the country will lose the grazing animals vital for the management of some of Britain's most spectacular landscapes and wildlife.

Mr Greenway said the areas affected included Bransdale on the North York Moors, which was wholly owned by the trust.

"The report is both timely and entirely accurate, and the Government must listen," he said.

But the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said it was "absolutely wrong" to suggest that the reform would cause a collapse of hill farming.

"The single payment scheme and environmental stewardship will enable farmers to connect directly with consumers, and put their businesses on a more sustainable footing.

"It will remove incentives to overproduction and farmers will in general be better off."

Meanwhile, Vale of York MP Anne McIntosh said today she was to meet Floods Minister Elliott Morley next week to raise problems facing her constituents after the recent floods.

"I will be requesting financial support for the agencies and individuals affected particularly for roads and bridge repairs and to cover uninsured losses incurred by farmers and householders," she said.

She also wanted a relaxing of the "Bellwin Formula," to allow agencies responsible for the repairs and clear-up to submit claims when they are ready, to have these claims paid in full and to have them paid quickly.

She said she would be calling for immediate support for a flood alleviation scheme in Thirsk.

Updated: 10:12 Thursday, July 07, 2005