FREE range poultry farmers in South Lakeland are reporting a cracking good year as egg sales soar nationally.

Latest statistics from the British Egg Industry Council show that free range egg sales now account for more than 40 per cent of total retail egg sales.

Free range sales have grown by 10 per cent over the last year and by almost a quarter since 2006.

William Case, 30, who whose family moved into free range production at their 650-acre Plumpton Cottage Farm, near Ulverston, in 2005, welcomed the news.

“It is very encouraging,” said Mr Case, who can trace his farming roots back to the 1500s.

“More farmers are moving to-wards free range production with a view to the 2012 ban on caged hens.

“People are probably more aware of the benefits of free range eggs – the product is good and the quality standard mark gives consumers confid-ence.”

“It was a growing market when we moved into it and it was the way things were going.”

The egg market, which has been in long-term decline since the 1950s, has now settled into a period of growth and over the past three years, sales have boomed, increasing by around 70 million eggs.

Andrew Parker, chair-man of the British Egg Industry Council, said: “The latest sales figures have reinforced the position of eggs as a major part of the weekly supermarket shop.”

The news came in the same week that the RSPCA relaxed stocking rules because of fears that farmers would be unable to meet the soaring consumer demands for free range eggs due to lack of space for the hens.

From the end of this month, the maximum number of hens allowed outdoors under the Freedom Food scheme will double from 404 per acre to 808.