Two Polish labourers get to grips with life on the farm

The problem is being partly caused by falling numbers in people studying to become agricultural students.

Sussex farmer Trevor Passmore, from Lancing, recruited two Polish workers after he advertised for labourers but did not receive any British applicants.

He said he had been trying to recruit workers for his farm for two years.

I think it has become out of fashion Trevor Passmore, farmer

Across Kent and Sussex's three agricultural colleges there has been a fall in the past decade from 156 students taking agriculture-related courses per year, to 102 this year.

The situation is so bad that farmers are being forced to provide additional perks to attract workers.

These include free accommodation, paid council tax, private medical insurance and company cars - giving some highly-skilled workers a total pay package worth around £30,000.

Mr Passmore, who is also the deputy county chairman for the West Sussex National Farmers' Union (NFU), said he was very concerned at the lack of British agricultural workers.

"I think it has become out of fashion. It's a lot of work.

A farm worker sees what it is like behind the wheel of a tractor

"Some days it is pouring with rain and blowing a gale, and there is so much computer work and everything else going on that it's easier to either find a job indoors, or not work, really," he said.

Martin Haworth, director of policy for the NFU, said although the problem was common across Britain, it was more prevalent in the South East, where there was a choice of other jobs.

He said part of it was down to a misconstrued image, and the lack of places to live in rural areas.

Mr Haworth said the NFU was trying to resolve the problems by taking on workers from the countries that had recently joined the European Union.

"There are a lot of highly skilled people, very motivated."

He said the NFU was also trying to get more affordable housing for workers.