THE head of a major agricultural company this week called for a better milk price for dairy farmers.

Christopher Holmes, chief executive of Carrs Billington, was speaking at Tuesday’s official opening of the company’s new Country Store in Hawes.

He said: “The beef and sheep prices are holding up well but the price for milk needs to be significantly higher than it currently is – at least another 2p or 3p a litre to give a minimum of 26p a litre.

“It needs to be at least that for farmers to be able to invest, and we need to encourage that investment.”

Carrs Billington has invested £250,000 in the new store and Mr Holmes said: “We have tremendous confidence in the future of agriculture and farming here in the Dales.”

The store stocks everything from animal feed and seeds, to machinery and tools, clothing and footwear, food and household goods to pet food.

It caters for the farming and rural community and is also proving popular with tourists.

Jim McRobert, branch manager, said they had already enjoyed a 20pc rise in customers since the store opened in November.

The new building replaces the old, cramped premises which used to be on the same site next to Hawes auction mart.

He said: “We had to invest in a new building, the other was antiquated, they were not nice working conditions for the staff, and nothing could be displayed.”

The new premises could not be more different – light and airy, with plenty of room.

The store is also believed to be the first in the North of England to feature a revolutionary air source heat pump which works like air conditioning, but provides heat.

Mr McRobert said: “We did not want oil because of the volatile price and diminishing supply, electricity was too expensive and we do not have natural gas.”

About 15 people work from the store which covers all of North Yorkshire.