Extra tractors aid potato harvest

The potato harvest season runs from March to June

A UK supermarket is to help farmers who are trying to salvage the Jersey Royal potato crop after recent rain.

Tesco has hired 20 extra tractors and sent them over to the island to help tow the harvesting equipment.

A company spokeswoman said Tesco is concerned about the crop. "When you have fields underwater the concern was pure and simple - supply," she said.

Tesco is leaving shelf space for Royals and speeding up distribution instead of switching to other varieties.

Heavy downpours over the past two weeks have turned many of Jersey's potato fields into quagmires.

Tom Benet, managing director of Jersey Royal Potatoes, said it was "unprecedented".

Potatoes are the island's biggest export crop and the season, running from March to June, has one month left.

Last year the potato seed crop was affected by bad weather in June and July, and farmers had been hopeful that this year would be drier.

According to the supermarket Tesco, Jersey Royal potatoes account for 75% of all UK potato sales when they are in season, and the annual market is worth �35m.

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