POTATO growers across North and East Yorkshire are set to lose thousands of pounds because the flooding has left their fields water-logged and unworkable.

The growers are still harvesting their crop, months overdue, and farmers say the situation could become worse with their stock in danger of rotting if there is a frost or another downpour.

Now Yorkshire and Humber MEP Robert Goodwill has called on the Government to set up a rescue package, including compensation, for those affected.

Paul Monkman, who owns Villa Farm, in Norton, which he lets out as a potato farm, said the situation was desperate.

"When the field flooded, it was just impossible to get any machinery down because the ground was too soggy," he said.

"There are still many acres of land which have not been harvested yet and if there is a frost - which at this time of year isn't uncommon - we might not be able to get the whole crop up."

Farmer Malcolm Wood, of Peacock Farm at Thorpe Bassett near Rillington, said out of 110 acres of potatoes, just over 30 acres had still to be lifted.

He added that 22 acres had been so badly affected by the floods it was still not possible to travel on the land to see what state the crop was in.

"I have been farming since the '60s and I have never seen anything like this. Although the soil here is light, it is completely saturated and has held the water below the surface.

"A lot of it is starting to rot and there will be no saving the crop but it could also affect the quality of the potatoes we're growing.

"If the quality isn't very high then it might be very difficult to sell them - it is definitely having a serious affect on the farm's finances."

Mr Wood said the flooding happened because the water table was so high. "We aren't near any of the rivers, but when it rained heavily the ditches started backing up with water and my fields became partially flooded.

"On top of losing money from rotting potatoes, there is the added cost of having to employ extra manpower to help get the crop up."

Ron Green, director of potato wholesaler AH Green and Sons, of Norton, said the floods spelled disaster for potato growers across North Yorkshire.

"The crop is supposed to be harvested in September, when the weather is milder, but now we're almost into December and farmers are still working to get the crop up. It is a terrible situation," he said.

MEP Robert Goodwill, a Terrington farmer, has written to Agriculture Minister Nick Brown asking for a rescue package for potato growers.

"When the Dutch had a similar crisis in 1998, their Government launched a compensation package to reimburse farmers.

"This ensured the survival of growers and continued the viability of the processing industry," he said.