CUSTOMERS can expect a sharp hike in the price of English produce after the devastating floods, says a Mathon farmer.

Although Andrew Green's crops were not as badly affected as many growers, the vegetable crops he supplies to several supermarkets were all waterlogged.

"All the vegetables were under six inches of water, they've survived but are growing much more slowly, it's not been good for them," he said.

"There'll be a big shortage of English produce for the UK customer, perhaps not immediately but definitely in the coming year and people will see big price rises."

Not only customers will bear the brunt of price increases, farmers themselves are facing high costs in the near future.

"I have no feed for my sheep at the moment and I'm only just starting to harvest it," added Mr Green.

"I don't know what it will be like, I fear it might be a very expensive winter for us. We'll survive but I think there will be massive problems."

One of the country's favourite crisp makers, Tyrrells Potato Chips, could not escape damage. Its potato crops, grown near Leominster, were under inches of water as torrential rain swept across the region.

The company, which provides products to more than 4,000 independent retailers across the country, has yet to find out the true severity of the floods but expects water damage to some of its crops.

It says staff are concerned about the extreme rainfall but are confident the chip production for the year would not be affected.

Founder William Chase said: "We grow the majority of our potatoes on quite sandy soil, which is better for the wetter weather and helps to drain the fields, as well as keep the potatoes out of surface water.

"We're now waiting for the summer to really take hold so we can get our tractors back into the fields."