FARMERS caught up in the latest Rural Payments Agency debacle are being urged to contact their local MP as a matter of urgency.

MP for Bridgwater and West Somerset Ian Liddell-Grainger is appealing for affected farmers to get in touch with him immediately.

Some 9,000 farmers across England and Wales have been left millions of pounds out of pocket because of RPA computer problems.

It means the Single Farm Payment cash they were expecting four months ago has still to arrive.

This week the RPA offered them 50 per cent Treasury-funded bridging payments until the full amount comes through – by June, according to RPA officials.

But Mr Liddell-Grainger, says that probably won’t be enough to end the hardship for many.

“The fact is that this couldn’t have happened at a worse time: prices for nearly everything are on the floor and this will be a year when farmers will be depending more than ever on the support of the SFP,” he said.

“There are now clear signs that the cash shortage is spreading to machinery agents and other suppliers and I know many farmers are having a tough time persuading the banks to continue extending credit.

“I have no idea how many farmers in my constituency are affected but I would urge them to get in touch with me immediately so that I can do whatever I can to help them through this appalling – but hopefully short-term – crisis.”

Farmers who have not received their Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) payment by the end of April will receive 50 per cent bridging payments.

NFU Vice President Guy Smith said: “The bridging payments announcement that NFU Council heard from RPA chief executive Mark Grimshaw is something the NFU has been urging the RPA to do for many months and we welcome this. But this goes hand in hand with overbearing questions – when will the remaining thousands of farmers be paid the full amount and why wasn’t this part payment made before?

“The RPA is in danger of brushing over its mistakes and not learning the lessons or making the much-needed improvements for this year. This is something that David Cameron himself said was essential in PMQs last week. Ploughing on with 2016 and waving 2015 mistakes goodbye is not good enough for the UK farming sector – we deserve an explanation and a better service for next year."