Minister put to flight

A police helicopter had to be called out yesterday to rescue the Secretary of State for Wales from a crowd of farmers protesting about the Government's handling of the BSE crisis.

William Hague was visiting Crymych in Pembrokeshire when a crowd of around 100 farmers gathered and blocked roads with tractors and muck- spreaders. A stand-off developed before Dyfed-Powys police scrambled the force helicopter from Carmarthen 20 miles away. When Mr Hague arrived for his next engagement at Cardigan he was confronted by a further demonstration. Tony Heath