GRAFFITTI appearing to support Welsh farmers has appeared on a roadside sign just outside Welshpool.

Would-be artists have spray painted the slogan ‘Save Wales Farmers’ on a sign alongside the A483 approach into Welshpool, just before the Llyn Coed y Dinas Nature Reserve.

The message, which greets motorists just before the roundabout signalling the start of the Welshpool bypass, has rendered the ‘Welshpool/Y Trallwng’ sign at the bottom invisible, and seems to have been daubed in the wake of heightened tension and anger in the agricultural community over new Welsh Government sustainable farming scheme proposals.

Welsh Labour's leadership hopefuls visited Powys at the weekend and were met with protests that saw nearly 100 tractors driven into Newtown.

County Times: The message seems to have been daubed in the wake of heightened tension and anger in the agricultural community over new Welsh Government sustainable farming scheme proposals. Credit Matt Jones The message seems to have been daubed in the wake of heightened tension and anger in the agricultural community over new Welsh Government sustainable farming scheme proposals. Credit Matt Jones (Image: Matt Jones)

The two candidates to take over from First Minister Mark Drakeford – Vaughan Gething and Jeremy Miles – attended a leadership debate for Labour members in Newtown, but were met by dozens of farmers who are concerned about upcoming proposals.

Around 100 tractors flooded into town on Sunday, February 18, carrying the banners “no farmers, no food, no future”.

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It follows a gathering of hundreds of farmers at Welshpool Livestock Market in early February, to share their frustrations and anger at plans they fear will lead to food shortages, job losses and the end of rural family farms in Wales.

It was reported that more than 1,000 people attended the February 1 meeting about various issues affecting farmers in Wales, such as the Sustainable Farming Scheme, NVZ and TB.

Gareth Wyn Jones, one of the biggest online farming personalities, was among the hundreds of people at the public meeting, which he described as an "unbelievable" turnout.