PICTURES AND VIDEO: Dairy farmers bring chaos to Asda - taking live cows into the supermarket

• Video - Rod Kirkpatrick/F Stop Press

Stone farmer Matt Weaver brought two of his year-old Holstein heifers to the Asda store in Stafford today. A 70-strong group of farmers and their supporters took part in the demonstration at the Queensway site.

While some bought up the supermarket's stocks of milk, others talked to shoppers about the protest and gave out leaflets.

The campaigners left peacefully after police were called and went on to the town's Aldi store. However the were stopped at the entrance by the manager who refused to let the cattle in.

Mr Weaver, 38, said: "Asda were not very happy about it but no one asked us to leave. The cows caused a bit of a spectacle in the aisles and children were crowding round to stroke them.

"But the animals were very well behaved, they are used to crowds from being at shows, and there were no safety issues."

Staffordshire Police said they were called at around 12.30pm to a report of a small number of farmers with cows carrying out a protest at Asda in Stafford.

Officers attended 'to ensure that the protest remained peaceful and minimal disruption was caused to the general public.'

Mr Weaver, whose family has farmed in Staffordshire for generations, said the protest was intended to be light-hearted way to get across a serious point.

"Milk has been devalued by a number of retailers and is a key item being used in an aggressive supermarket price war," he said.

"The four-pint carton is offered by Asda, Morrisons, Aldi, Lidl and Iceland for 89p, cheaper than water, and a slap in the face to farmers.

"We wanted to make a point and were careful not to be accused of trespassing. The cows were shampooed the day before and we all left quietly when asked.

"At Lidl, when the manager told us on no account could we bring the cows in, we stayed outside and talked to shoppers, giving out leaflets. It all went off peacedfully."

In a statement after the protest, Asda said: "Our milk is supplied by the Arla farmer cooperative. The Arla dairy cooperative is owned by farmers. We moved to this model after guidance from those who were supplying us and means the price received by our farmers is set by their own cooperative business.

"They receive an on-account payment for their milk and take an equal share of any remaining profit. There is no link between retail prices and farmgate price."