The ending of live sheep exports from Berwick after only one shipment has dealt a blow to producers in the North-East and Borders, it was warned last night.

The blow comes at a time when farms are already suffering pressure on grazing with the recent drought.

The first exports from the port in about 60 years were halted after protests by animal rights activists.

However, Logan Brown, director of Border Livestock Exchange in Kelso, along with Yorkshire-based export company Jelsay, who was behind the new venture, has not ruled out the possibility of further export attempts.

"There was an agreement right at the beginning with the harbour master that if there was any adverse pressure on the harbour then we would stop the exports straight away," said Mr Brown.

The intention was to buy store lambs from farms in Northumberland, Berwickshire and Roxburghshire, the area in which Border Livestock Exchange operates its direct procurement service, which were only within between 20 minutes and two hours away from Berwick.

"Defra considers the time the sheep are on the boat as rest time and officials were very happy about the conditions on the boat and the professional way the operation was being run," said Mr Brown.

"It's a blow not only to the local farming community but also to Berwick and other borders businesses who were supplying bedding and feed and other requirements. Vets were also getting extra work from it."

The one consignment of 1,800 store lambs for Holland, as well as helping to alleviate pressure on farms in the North-East suffering from feed shortages caused by the recent drought, was earning a premium price for producers of 120p per kg on live lambs in the 34-42kg weight range, said Mr Brown. "This was a very good way of moving the lambs at very attractive prices which did not involve long journeys by road to more southerly ports," he added.

Country Land and Business Association chairman John Cresswell, of Belford, said the region's sheep producers were very disappointed at the outcome. "Everything was done correctly from the welfare angle. I believe the facilities were exceptional and the boat was air conditioned.

"It was apparently blown out by people making threats. It's very frustrating.

"The sheep were earning a couple of pounds a head extra than producers could get locally which is a high percentage extra," he added.

Police have been investigating allegations that Tweed dock harbour master Brian Watson received anonymous phone calls from an activist about the exports. Advocates for Animals campaigners have admitted they were among a number of organisations who had contacted the harbour to protest but they have denied any personal intimidation.