BRITAIN is reaching a crossroads, as we lurch towards gigantic American-style factory farms.

It is a transition that once started will be almost impossible to stop.

Plans are to be resubmitted shortly for what would be Europe's largest dairy farm, where over 8,000 cattle will be kept inside nearly all year. No meadows for them, just a maze of metal and stone.

The pig industry is also becoming more intensive with what is set to be Britain's largest pig farm. These animals, who in the wild enjoy rooting and wander for miles, will, we believe, never see the outside.

If plans for this go ahead it will house well over 20,000 pigs.

The company behind this says that there will be no animals left in the countryside within ten years.

They are closely following the American farming model; so intensive that it has brought misery, pollution and disruption for many of those people who live near them.

People are rightly worried, but this should be of concern to us all.

However, it would be wrong to think that we don't have intensive farming in the UK already.

Almost all chickens raised for meat are kept in vast sheds and pigs are mostly farmed indoors in factories.

But the sheer scale of these new proposals across the UK is simply staggering. They are popping up near small communities and the next one could be on your doorstep.

We are trying to stop the spread of this across the UK. Please join the growing number of people saying "No!" to factory farming.

Of course, the best way to stop this in its tracks is to withdraw your custom – and the best way to do that is to go veggie. For help on how, contact Viva! on 0117 944 1000 or visit www.viva.org.uk.

JUSTIN KERSWELL Viva! York Court Bristol