Hundreds queue overnight to apply for modernisation grant scheme

SOME farmers spent almost two days outside government offices across Northern Ireland to apply for farm modernisation scheme grants

The scheme, part of the Northern Ireland Rural Development Programme, will assist only 1,200 farmers to carry out improvements to their businesses.

It opened for applications yesterday morning but it was on a first come, first served basis, which resulted in hundreds of farmers queuing overnight outside offices. Some had been there since Sunday.