A host of tractors have rolled up outside a farmers conference to protest against the Labour Government.

Tractors honked their horns outside the Examinations School in Oxford as Environment Secretary Steve Reed was quizzed by farmers at the Oxford Farming Conference inside.

The tractors could be heard inside the venue as Mr Reed apologised to farmers, admitting changes to inheritance tax taken by the new Government had "shocked" the industry.

He said: "We want to make it easier for all farmers to meet the challenges of the transition and run successful businesses. But what I'm hearing from so many is that the turmoil of recent years has made farming incredibly tough.

"I recognise the anger when farmers came to protest in Westminster last year, but it wasn't just about tax."

Victoria Vyvyan, President of the Country Land and Business Association (CLA) warned farm businesses face having profits "wiped out" by inheritance tax bills.

She said: "Capping vital inheritance tax reliefs will threaten their viability and not deliver the growth and investment the Government says it wants to achieve.

"Farmers are playing their part in enhancing the environment and delivering public goods, but they also need to be able to run viable, profitable businesses. The Government's freezing of the farming budget and lack of ambition for the rural economy is hitting confidence."

She urged the Government to invest in productivity, strike new trade deals and defend farms from drought and flood.