BUTCHERS and farmers have spoken of their concern over predictions that the price of meat is set to rise.

Business advisory firm Deloitte says a near 100 per cent rise in the cost of animal feed will be passed on to consumers in the form of higher prices.

Deloitte says meat price increases would be needed to support the British livestock industry.

And that has left producers and retailers facing an uncertain future.

"We've had to adjust our prices on all our meat and it's had a big knock-on effect," said Eddie Thomas, of Mike McGuire's butchers in Havelock Street.

Fellow butcher Bryan Turner, of Bryan Turner Butchers in Ferndale Road, is equally worried about the future.

He said: "It's funny as they always seem to put the prices up when the trade is quiet.

"It's early days but I am concerned.

"The market is always fluctuating but it does seem as though the prices will be growing quite high this time."

Cattle farmer John Jones, of Oxhouse Farm, Cricklade, said British beef may be off the menu if consumers don't support the price increases.

He said: "Prices have been so low for a long time.

"British people can't have British beef if we are unable to afford to produce it."

The report by Deloitte was met with mixed reactions from shoppers in the town yesterday.

David Allsop, 53, of Lakeside, said: "I certainly wouldn't be deterred from eating meat if the price rises - I like it too much.

"If prices of beef for example increase too much then I'd probably eat more pork or something else instead."

And Catherine Eggleton, 31, of Old Town, said: "I eat organic meat most of the time anyway, which is slightly more expensive, but I'd rather eat meat that's of a high quality not so often."

It is not just meat prices that could be on the increase.

Last week the National Association of British and Irish Millers warned that rocketing wheat costs would push up the price of bread.

Wheat prices have hit an all-time high in the past few weeks due to poor harvests and increasing global demand.