Brexit would be “devastating” to the county’s farmers, and lead to the end of many, a prominent Cumbrian farmer has said.

Beef and sheep farmer, Alistair Mackintosh says farmers’ interests are best served by remaining in the European Union.

Speaking to the News & Star following an “overwhelming” vote by the National Farmers’ Union in favour of staying in Europe, Mr Mackintosh said EU support was critical for many of the county’s farmers.

“There is no doubt there are many things that need changing in the EU, it needs reform, and we desperately need reform of the existing Common Agricultural Policy,” said Mr Mackintosh, NFU Cumbrian council member.

“But from a farming point of view it is the uncertainty if we decide to leave and what that uncertainty will generate over the coming years.”

The EU was a key market for UK farmers, said Mr Mackintosh. “Access to a single market of 500 million people is tremendously important.”

“Look at what happened to New Zealand farmers when they overnight packed in subsidies, and there was a mass exodus from the industry. This is what could happen to many of our farmers if we came out of the EU,” he added.

At the end of a debate lasting several hours, the NFU passed a resolution following an “overwhelming” vote in favour of staying in the EU, which it said was based on the “balance of existing evidence”.

The union – which has 55,000 members in England and Wales – announced its position after a vote by its council.

However, the NFU said it would not be actively campaigning in the referendum.

It said its council members looked at a number of issues, including the impact leaving the EU would have on agricultural trade and the availability of labour.

It has also completed 28 roadshows to debate key farming issues in the referendum with members, and sent two reports to its members.

The organisation said it was not joining any campaign groups and would not be telling its members how to vote.

However, its president, Meurig Raymond, said there had been an “overwhelming” vote in favour of staying in the EU.

“We believe it’s for the betterment of the future of British agriculture,” he said.

“On all the surveys we have done in the NFU, the majority believe that we should stay in.”

He added: “We have had 28 meetings across the country in the last three weeks.

“We have spoken to three or four thousand people. So the delegates here today brought the views from those meetings to our council meeting.”

Mr Mackintosh added: “If we go out it will be devastating for our farmers. This is a wake-up call to the industry. We must now step up to the mark. We must have clear goals as to how we go forward if we stay in.”

Lib Dem leader and Cumbrian MP, Tim Farron said he would continue to campaign for a remain vote, and “this announcement by the NFU confirms what local farmers have long already known – that it is essential to the future of farming in our area that we remain in the EU, which gives us access to the largest single market in the world.”